PHYSICS OF THE GLOBE. 207 



and Working of Railway Tunnels, by Morrison and others, 

 in Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers, art. xliv. ; 

 also, in the same volume, the Pneumatic Transmission of 

 Telegrams, art. xliii., by Culley, Sabine, etc. a very thor- 

 ough and important discussion. 



The enthusiastic aeronaut De Fonvielle writes to Captain 

 Iiowgate to say that the study of clouds and currents by 

 means of small balloons will be now systematically pursued 

 at the Paris Observatory. This is, he states, in consequence 

 of the fact that Captain Howgate (at Mr. Abbe's suggestion) 

 furnished the meteorologist of his preliminary expedition 

 with a quantity of these balloons for use in the arctic re- 

 gions. The resistance that the air experiences from friction 

 and obstacles on the earth's surface is in many ways shown 

 to be a very important factor in meteorology ; and as it is 

 very difficult to make even an approximate allowance for 

 this friction, it will conduce greatly to the reconciliation of 

 theory with observation if some of the national meteorolog- 

 ical systems will introduce the daily use of these balloons 

 to determine the direction and velocity of the air-currents 

 within 1000 feet of the earth's surface. 



Professor S. A. King, formerly of Boston, and now of Phil- 

 adelphia, continues to make aeronautic ascensions as much 

 as possible in the interest of the science of meteorology, 

 although also strictly a business and professional matter. 

 Could the results of his balloon voyages since 1851 be col- 

 lected together, it would be seen that he ranks among the 

 foremost aeronauts in his intelligent appreciation of the 

 physical and meteorological problems that concern his pro- 

 fession. Such a w T ork has, we understand, been in progress 

 for some years, and doubtless now only awaits an enterpris- 

 ing publisher. 



Professor Mendelieff is understood to be devoting his 

 spare time to an extensive historical and scientific work on 

 aeronautics. 



An important volume on aeronautics has been published 

 by Tissandier, entitled " Histoire de mes Ascensions," being 

 a record of twenty- four aerial voyages. The work gives 

 special attention to the scientific exploration and study of 

 the atmosphere, and is, of course, particularly valuable as 

 containing Tissandier's own experiences. 



