PHYSICS OF THE GLOBE. 181 



above ground, the temperature, humidity, and velocity of the 

 air, and the dimensions of the moving mass. His formulae 

 were illustrated by numerous examples, and are believed to 

 present us with the first satisfactory deductive investigation 

 of the subject that has as yet been published. 



The famous squall of March 24, 18*78, in which the Euryd- 

 ice was capsized, has been made the subject of a short study 

 by W. Clement Ley, who thinks that this squall may be re- 

 garded as a typical one, in that the longest diameter of its 

 barometric depression was nearly at right angles to the di- 

 rection of the wind; and very much exceeded its shortest' 

 diameter. In one respect it was decidedly exceptional 

 namely, in the backing of the cirrus current by about 112 

 during its passage. 



Mr. Ley concludes that the principles of cloud observation 

 should occupy a very large place in the education of seamen, 

 and, we may add, of all other meteorological observers. It 

 does ncrt seem possible for a central meteorological office to 

 predict such local squalls as this, but it is allowable to infer 

 from Ley's article that experienced navigators can them- 

 selves foresee them a few minutes in advance, sufficient to 

 prepare their vessels to meet them. 



Bucchich communicates to the Austrian Association re- 

 sults of numerous observations at Lesina on water-spouts. 

 He states : first, their cause is to be found in opposing wind- 

 currents; second, at Lesina they always move from east to 

 west; third, the direction of rotation of the whirl is opposed 

 to that of the hands of a watch ; fourth, for one water-spout 

 he was able to determine its time of rotation namely, twelve 

 seconds. 



An account of the tornado of the 15th of May, 1878, in the 

 Department of Vienna, is given by Touchimbert in the Paris 

 Comptes Hendus. 



While making magnetic observations at Kirksville, Mo., 

 Professor Nipher had occasion to carefully observe several 

 dust-whirls, or small whirlwinds. One of these whirls crossed 

 a pond of water, and immediately a depression was formed, 

 extending to the bottom of the pond; the top of the depres- 

 sion was about six feet in diameter. The water all around 

 this depression was whirling rapidly. 



K. V. Riecke has collected and studied the statistics of 



