242 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
■ , f 
British. Isles 
East. West. generally. 
1873 
29-6 
39*3 
34*0 
1874 
29-5 
41-4 
34*9 
1875 
32*9 
42*3 
37*2 
1876 
34-5 
44-1 
38-9 
1877 
37*2 
52-7 
44-2 
1878 
, 
29*9 
39*1 
34*1 
It will be noticed that the years 1866 and 1878 are quoted 
in the above list, as, by taking these two years, we are enabled 
to make use of a smoothing process, by means of which the 
rainfall is welded, as it were, into one continuous band. In 
drawing the curve a , in fig. 1, the following plan has been 
adopted : Let «, b, c, &c. equal the first, second, third, &e. 
annual amounts, then a + ^ + - c gives the amount of rainfall 
which is taken to represent the rainfall of the first year of the 
curve, and so on throughout the whole series. In the second 
curve ( b ) the actual amount for each of the years is given under 
its respective date, and no attempt at smoothing down is made, 
but it will be noticed that the two curves show a very close 
resemblance to one another, the difference being only in 
degree : — 
Fig. 1. Curves showing the Annual Rainfall in the years 1867-1877 inclusive. •. 
From these curves it will be seen that so far from the year : 
of maximum rainfall being that of maximum Sunspots, the re- I 
verse is the case, the year 1870, which has an exceptionally i 
large relative number of Sunspots, showing the smallest amount 
