called Wind Reels. 



4^57 



were almost at right angles to the current of the wind, there 

 were long streams extending over half the visible horizon, di- 

 varicating very considerably from the parallelism of the line 

 which marked the direction of the wind. Might it not be that 

 some, at least, if not all, of the lines of cloud were in a position 

 corresponding with what mathematicians call the resultant of 



199 



two forces, which, in this case, I assume to be the current of 

 the wind and terrestrial magnetism ? So far, at least, I am 

 certain that those long lines of wane-cloud very frequently lie 

 in directions corresponding, or nearly corresponding, with 

 the magnetic meridian; and, if magnetism has no influence 

 over them, the coincidence must be confessed to be singular and 

 unaccountable. 



It would be wrong, however, to venture upon any positive 

 assertion of this theory, or rather speculation, in the deficiency 

 of well-ascertained facts ; but, from the analogous arrangement 

 between the wane-clouds figured above, and the streaks of the 

 aurora borealis, which is also supposed to be connected with 

 magnetism or electricity, I think that farther investigation may 

 elucidate the dependence of the phenomena on the same 

 causes. The aurora borealis, indeed, is almost always in the 

 direction of the magnetic meridian, while the wane-clouds in 

 question, so far as I have remarked, are more under the in- 

 fluence of the current of wind blowing in the plane of their 

 stratification. 



JLee^ Kent, June 2. 



Vol. I. — No. 5, 



I I 



