234 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



time from the south or southeast M'ith great violence, and 

 while the barometer descended rapidly, the thermometer in- 

 dicated a temperature of 59 Fahr., with a suffocating atmos- 

 phere. From the study of the record it was found that a 

 cyclone made its appearance on the 10th and 11th of March 

 in the northwest of Europe, in the latitude of the Hebrides. 

 On the following day it extended toward Italy, passing by 

 on the 13th, and thence moving toward Africa. On the 16th 

 and 17th, the return cyclone was apparent on the northern 

 shores of Africa, extending toward the north, and reaching 

 Italy on the 18th, carrying on its flanks, as usual, the sands 

 of the desert. The high temperature accompanying this 

 cyclone melted a great quantity of snow in the mountains, 

 which caused an inundation of the River Po. 1 -S, Aj^ril 20, 

 1873,38. 



TRAVELS OF ABBE DAVID IN CHINA. 



At a recent meeting of the Geographical Society of Paris, 

 a communication was presented containing an account of the 

 travels of the Abbe David in Central China, in continuation 

 of those w^hich have resulted in adding so greatly to our 

 knowledge of the natural history of that country. The abbe 

 left Pekin on the 2d of October, 1872, passing in a south- 

 westerly direction, and moving off the ordinarily traveled 

 routes, with the object of better studying the geological con- 

 dition of the country. His course was interrupted on the 

 frontiers of Tse-tchuen and Kansu, having been refused per- 

 mission to enter the latter province on account of the rebell- 

 ion prevailing therein. 



The abbe discovered three coal deposits to the north of 

 Mount Tsin-lin, and visited another in a different locality. 

 At a later date, in descending the Han-kian, his vessel was 

 wrecked, and he lost the greater part of his collections, in- 

 cluding numerous species of vertebrates, and probably many 

 novelties. This mishap discouraged him to such an extent 

 that he decided to return almost immediately to France. r3 

 J^, Septe^nher 5, 1873, 624. 



DETERMINATION OF THE TRUE MOUNT SINAI. 



Dr. Beke still continues his efforts to secure a fund for de- 

 termining the position of the true Mount Sinai, Avhich he 



