The Great Brought o/1893. 
853 
basis of the definitions laid down by Mr. Symons in tne volume of 
British Rainfall for 1887. These definitions are as follow : — 
1. Absolute Brought. Periods of more than 14 consecutive days with- 
out any measurable quantity of rain. 
2. Partial Brought. Periods of more than 28 consecutive days the 
aggregate rainfall of which does not exceed O'Ol inch per diem. 
In addition to these an Engineer's Brought was defined as a period of 
three or more consecutive months the aggregate rainfall of which is less than 
one-half the average. 
The figures clearly showed that an engineer’s drought prevailed 
to a greater or less extent in all the more southern parts of England, 
as well as at some stations situated in the south of Ireland and the 
west of Scotland. In many places the three-months limit might 
indeed have been multiplied by 2. In London and at Oxford, for 
example, the deficiency of rain was prolonged over seven months, 
the total fall between March and September being only slightly over 
48 per cent, of the average at Oxford, and rather less than 46 per 
cent, in the Metropolis. At many other stations in the south of 
England the rainfall of July was sufficiently heavy to terminate the 
long drought. 
From a general review of the statistics it appeared that the only 
portions of the United Kingdom altogether unaffected by the drought 
were certain districts in the west of Scotland and the majority of 
the stations situated in the northern and south-western parts of 
Ireland, or, broadly speaking, the extreme western and north- 
western parts of our islands. 
In the north-west of England three stations out of seven had 
an absolute drought lasting for 15 days, while at another station 
(Blackpool) there was one absolute period of 29 days, and another of 
1 8 days. The partial drought in England N.W. varied greatly in 
duration in different places ; at Stonyhurst and Manchester there 
were only 30 days, but at Newton Reigny (near Penrith) there 
were as many as 61, while at Blackpool there was one period of 69 
days, followed after a week’s interval by another of 32 days. 
Similarly, large variations were reported in the north-east of England, 
for while four stations out of the six escaped an absolute drought, 
one other station had 1 9 days without rain, and another station as 
many as 29 days. All parts of the district reported a partial 
drought, the number of days ranging from 45 at Alnwick Castle, 
and 46 at York, to 79 at Spurn Head, and to 75, followed by 
another 30-days period, at Shields. 
In the Midland counties, six stations out of eight experienced an 
absolute drought, the number of days ranging from 15 at Hereford 
and Cirencester to 30 at Oxford. At Loughborough there was one 
period of 29 days between March and April, and another period of 
17 days in June. The partial drought lasted in most places from 
75 to 79 days, while at Loughborough and Churchstoke this very 
long period was supplemented by a shorter one, which continued 
respectively for 32 and 29 days. In the east of England all stations 
