51 
Ordinary Meeting, December 16tb, 1879. 
J. P. Joule, LL.D., D.C.L., F.RS., &c.. President, in the 
Chair. 
“ On a New Form of Marine Rain Gauge,” by W. J. 
Black, Esq. Communicated by J. B. Dancer, F.R.A.S. 
This marine rain-gauge for the collection and estimation 
of rainfall at sea on board ship, is a cylindrical vessel, open 
at the top and with a conical bottom, as in a wine bottle, 
projecting upwards. 
It is poised on an upright pivot, projecting into this from 
the floor of the square box, that encloses it, which is made 
large enough to allow of the swinging to and fro of the 
gauge all round. 
The gauge is thus preserved in a horizontal position in 
all the rolling movements of a ship at sea, and it is further 
secured from spinning round on its axis hy pins on opposite 
sides, moving in slots fixed on the corresponding sides of the 
box. 
The gauge is formed of two parts, that fit into each other 
half way down, the collector on the top, and the receiver for 
the rain below, and each can be disconnected from the other 
at pleasure. 
At the bottom of the collector is a diaphragm perforated 
with holes for the passage of the water into the receiver 
below, which will also check evaporation of collected rain, 
and prevent the upward splashing of the fluid by lurching 
of the ship. 
Proceedings— Lit, & Phid. Soc.— Vol, XIX.— No. 6. — Session 1879-SO. 
