ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. 317 



to conceive that the atmospheres at those two points possess 

 entirely different qualities, analogous, in some degree, to those of 

 the equatorial and polar currents. 



SALT IN THE AIR. 



From a series of observations, conducted with great care at 

 Monaco, on the shores of the Mediterranean, a French scientist 

 reports to the Academy the presence of a stratum of air 200 feet 

 high, extending for miles inland, which is constantly impregnated 

 wit*h saline particles. This saline stratum, the writer asserts, is 

 found on all sea-coasts, is independent of barometric pressure or the 

 hygrometric state of the atmosphere, and is due to the " pulveriza- 

 tion" of the sea-water by the breaking of the surf upon the rocks. 

 He contends that the phenomenon he points out must not be con- 

 founded with what is commonly known as spray, which is of a 

 coarse nature, and entirely local in character. 



