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118 TRANS. OF THE ACAD. OF SCIENCE. 
interrupted descent and ascent took place from January to 
December, we find in 1862 some interruptions in the steps of 
that ladder. The electricity in February, 1862, is about four 
degrees higher than that of January, April somewhat higher 
than March, and July is the lowest instead of September in 
1861. These trifling irregularities may be accounted for by 
differences in temperature and relative humidity, and by a 
greater number of thunderstorms in 1862. January of 1862, 
for instance, was so unusually rainy, that its relative humidity 
too was unusually high, diminishing thus electricity. But 
the general features of distribution of electricity throughout 
the year are apparent in both years, and we may in that re¬ 
spect divide the twelvemonths of each year into two or three 
groups. Computing the months which give the highest elec¬ 
tricity and those which give the lowest in each year, we find 
that in both years the months of January, February, March, 
April, November and December exhibit the highest, and 
the months of May, June, July, August, September and Oc¬ 
tober the lowest electricity. The first group gives 
The aggregate monthly mean of 71.5 degrees of electricity i 
and -74.6 “ 
While the second group gives 29.0 “ “ 
The second^rpup r prevailed^ therefcre in, J861s,apd. the 1st 
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