134
"The meteorology of south-eastern China in 1886." (Quart. Journ. R. Met. Soc. Vol.
XIV No. 67.)
"Rainfall in China in 1887" (Quart. Journ. R. Met. Soc. Vol. XIV No. 67.)
"On the rate of the Hongkong Standard Clock" (Astr. Nachr. No. 2868). "Crepuscular rays in China" (Nature Vol XXXVII p. 464.)
"Cause of September typhoons in Hongkong" (Nature Vol. XXXVII p. 439.) "On the rainfall and temperature of Victoria Peak, Hongkong."
"Upper and lower wind currents over the torrid zone.”
(Nature Vol. XXXVIII p. 78.)
(Nature Vol. XXXVIII p. 565.)
"On the grass minimum thermometer" (Nature Vol. XXXVIII p. 619.)
A paper on the mean height of the barometer in Iloilo (Philippines), and a paper on the law of storms in Hongkong and in southern Formosa are in press.
18. In the China Coast Meteorological Register, based on information transmitted by the Eastern Extension and the Great Northern Telegraph Company, which was daily published, is given a summary of the atmospheric circumstances in Luzon and along the coast of China, and information concerning the weather in Japan and in Wladivostock. It contains also information concerning the first appearance and progress of typhoons.
19. Mr. FIGG took all the clockworks of the self-recording Meteorological instruments asunder and had them cleaned and adjusted after which they went as well as before. The anemometer is oiled every ten days with pure sperm-oil. During previous winters some trouble was experienced with the lamps on the barograph and the thermograph, which had a tendency to go out in the course of the night. In hot and damp weather they would burn any length of time. By using only the best kerosine oil to be had in the Colony, having the lamps washed in soda once a week and especially by emptying out all the oil left this difficulty has been overcome. Some extra fine lighthouse oil was procured from London but it was not found better than the kinds to be had in the shops here and cost many times as much. The introduction of the electric light in Kowloon would benefit the Observatory materially.
20. Among scientific men who have visited this Observatory may be mentioned Dr. SCHRADER, the well-known astronomer of Hamburgh, when on his return from an exploration in New Guinea, with whom I conversed about methods practically used in making observations; Captain FLEURIAIS com- manding La Galissonnière and Lieutenant Perrin; Captain EDLER VON WOHLGEMUTH, Director of the Observatory, JAN MAYEN, who explained to me a great many things connected with navigation; Captain USBORNE MOORE, in command of H.M.S. Rambler, the surveying vessel; Lieutenant HARTMANN, formerly connected with the Observatory at Wilhelmshafen; Lieutenant GRATZL, of the Austrian Frigate Fasana, Professor MILNE and Mr. KNIPPING, of Tokio; Father FAURA of Manila and others.
21. I continue in friendly correspondence with Mr. WHIPPLE, the principal authority on Meteoro- logical matters in the Empire, who is as well known for his genial disposition as for his extensive information and practical experience. Indeed Mr. WHIPPLE'S assistance is not confined to any district and meteorologists over the world are more or less indebted to him for valuable support at some time or other.
22. The crepuscular rays at sunset described in "Nature" Vol. XXXVII page 464, were during the past year carefully observed by a volunteer, who does not wish to be named:
Very faint traces of rays were seen on the 18th of January, the 25th April, the 21st June, the 2nd, 6th and 21st July, the 2nd, 4th, and 6th August.
Well developed rays were seen in the west on the 19th February, the 24th April, the 12th, and 22nd June, the 12th, 13th, 18th, and 20th, July, the 5th, 16th, 28th and 31st, August, the 1st, 11th, 14th, and 29th, September.
Strong rays both east and west, beginning in the former direction were seen on the 19th, 22nd and 23rd July, the 19th August, the 3rd, 4th and 5th September, the 14th October.
Rays stretching right across the whole sky were seen on the 8th and 10th May, the 20th June, the 30th August, the 13th, 19th and 26th September, the 12th October.
The number of observations were therefore: Jan. 1, Feb. 1, Mar. 0, Apr. 2, May 2, June 4, July 10, Aug. 9, Sep. 10, Oct. 2, Nov. 0, Dec. 0. On the 19th of February dark rays were seen above white small-cumulus clouds at an altitude of up to 60°, while the sun was still 5° above the horizon. This was followed by a great thunderstorm, a rather rare phenomenon in that month.
23. With reference to cloud classification, I have received a pamphlet from the Hon. R. ABER- CROMBY which suggests several changes in the names of clouds (Comp. Annual Report for 1887 page 3 §13). The descriptions of clouds given therein are scarcely superior to those usually printed in such "
'Instructions," but the new names suggested would seem to recommend themselves for inter-