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ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVER?. 



ble for want of an atmosphere, the remote side may be perfectly adapted to 

 animal life. It is at least certain that the mere want of an atmosphere 

 perceptible to us is no longer conclusive as to the uninhabitableness of 

 the planet that rules the night. We announce this discovery on the 

 authority of one of the most eminent mathematicians and astronomers in 

 the world. The above is given by the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer, on the 

 authority (it is understood) of Prof . Pierce, of Harvard. 



ON THE OCCURRENCE OF HAIL STORMS IN THE ISLAND OF CUBA. 



At the last meeting of the American Association, M. Andres Poey, of 

 Havana, Cuba, presented a paper containing some interesting observations 

 on the occurrence of hail in the West Indies, especially in Cuba, and the 

 apparent increase of this phenomena during the last few years. 



Until within a comparatively recent period, the occurrence of hail in some 

 of the islands was considered an extraordinary event. Humboldt, as the 

 result of his observations, came to the conclusion that, at Havana, hail oc- 

 curred at intervals of 15 or 20 years. M. Poey, in examining the sub- 

 ject, found that the records for a considerable time previous to Humboldt's 

 visit to Cuba, and for some time after, confirmed the truth of his asser- 

 tions ; but within the last few years hail has become " frequent phenome- 

 na." Thus M. Poey states that from 1828 to 1846 there was no hail at 

 Havana, but from 1846 to 1850 hail occurred each year. In 1850 there 

 was no hail, but the phenomena occurred in 1851, '52, '53 and '54. 



The conclusions at which M. Poey has arrived are, that for some reason 

 the phenomena of hail has increased and become frequent during the last 

 few years in the Island of Cuba, and that the maximum of hail does not 

 occur, as might be expected, in the hottest months, but in March and 

 April. 







