MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS 
453 
runs ' on international term days. ' Quick runs ' are 
obtained when one moves the photographic paper at a 
much greater speed than usual, so as to have a more open 
time-scale. These were carried out at the same times by 
all magnetic observatories, in the hope that the com- 
parison of traces would give definite information regarding 
the origin of magnetic storms. 
Magnetic storms, though frequent, are not of hourly 
occurrence, and 11 is a matter for congratulation that one 
of our largest storms (also recorded by Webb's instru- 
ments with Mawson) occurs during the course of a 
quick run. 
In addition to almost complete traces furnished by 
the magnetographs, absolute observations were under- 
taken once a week for standardisation of the traces, while 
observations for sensitiveness of the magnetographs were 
carried out once a month. 
Observations of stars or sun, for time signals and for 
rating of chronometers, were made on an average once 
every fortnight. During the whole of the second year 
the rate of the standard chronometer varied only from 
o'lj second losing to 0*25 second gaining, a very fine 
performance considering the adverse conditions it had 
to contend against. 
The complete hourly records of auroras, which have 
been shown to be connected with sun-spot phenomena 
and with magnetic storms, should when worked out give 
data of considerable value, especially when compared 
with the data collected by Priestley on the Northern 
Party. 
