85 
The only point upon which I have any doubt is the time, 
which might have been a little later. I took the time by my 
watch, hut it had been wrong for a day or two, and I could 
not get to any good clock to test it for some days after. 
Mr. Vernon, F.R A.S., communicated the following 
“Note on the Rainfall of 1864*” 
The fall of rain for the past year has been 4*758 inches 
below the average of the last 71 years. The fall was also 
7*700 inches below that of 1863, and fell upon 44 less days 
than in that year. 
The principal deficiency occurred during the last six 
months of the year, especially in July and October. The 
only month havjng a fall in excess out of the last six months 
of the year was September, and rain fell upon more days that 
month than any month during the year. 
The falling off in July and October was no doubt owing to 
the excessive amount of easterly winds. In July easterly 
winds occurred upon 11 days, whereas the average of 13 years 
gives only 5*9. In October easterly winds prevailed on no 
less than 18 days, the average being only 9*5. 
On examining the monthly means for the 71 years, there 
appears to be evidence of periodicity in the distribution of the 
rainfall : a minimum occurring in April just after the vernal 
equinox, and a maximum in October just after the autumnal 
equinox. In September, however, there appears to be an 
exception to the gradually increasing values from April to 
October. 
If this law really exists as it appears to do, the rainfall will 
evidently bear a close relation to the sun’s course in the 
ecliptic, the minimum rainfall occurring at a time when the 
gradually increasing temperature of the air enables it to 
absorb a larger amount of moisture, and consequently tending 
to prevent precipitation. The maximum rainfall also occur- 
ing at the time, the temperature begins to fall rapidly, and 
