ORDINARY MEETING-, May 16, 1881. 
Rev. R. Thornton, D.D., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the 
following elections were announced : — 
Life Member Rev. 0. D. Miller, M.A., United States. 
Member : — Rev. J. P. Kempthorne, New Zealand. 
Associates C. Bryant, Esq., Cheshire ; Rev. W. C. Ley, M.A., Lutter- 
worth ; Rev. M. W. Maclean, M.A., Canada ; Rev. J. W. Pratt, M.A., 
London ; F. J. So why, Esq., Gainsborough. 
Also the presentation of the following Works for the Library : — 
il Proceedings of the Royal Society.” 
“ Proceedings of the American Geographical Society.” 
“ The Chain of Ages.” By Rev. W. B. Galloway, M.A. 
A Work by Professor Reinsch. 
From the same. 
Ditto. 
Ditto. 
Ditto. 
The following paper was then read by the Author : — 
RAINFALL AND CLIMATE IN INDIA. By Sir Joseph 
Eayrer, K.C.S.I., M.D., F.R.S. 
T HE subject of this paper was suggested by one read here 
on the 7th March last by Mr. Bateman in which he 
dealt chiefly with the rainfall of our own islands : in the course 
of his remarks he pointed out its importance in reference to the 
production of food, and the regulation of our own climate, 
which, as regards its peculiarly variable character, and not- 
withstanding its attendant drawbacks, is one of a combi- 
nation of causes “ which contribute largely to the fertility of 
the soil, the perseverance, hardihood, and energy of the people, 
and to the enjoyment of life.” 
The Map. — The accompanying Map has been kindly prepared by the 
Geographer at the India Office, and is published by his permission : it 
is at once a map of the Physical Geography as well as of the Meteorology 
of India, coloured as regards the latter in accordance with the last published 
report of the Meteorological Department at Calcutta. 
