232 Prof. Dove's Outlines of a general Theory of the Winds. 



vincing proof than a number of the best authorities. But for 

 years I have in vain endeavoured to procure journals of ob- 

 servations that might be applicable. The same is the case 

 with regard to the southern hemisphere. But the accordance in 

 the description of the phenomenon for nearly two centuries 

 and a half, I believe, speaks for their correctness; nor is it 

 likely that men of different nations and states, as Bacon, Ma- 

 riotte, Sturm, Forster, Le Gentil, Don Ulloa, Toaldo, Poitevin, 

 Romme, should have copied one another in noticing the same 

 observation, particularly if we consider that in the works of 

 Muschenbroek, Nollet, Sauri, and Saussure nothing is to be 

 found upon it ; nay, that Deluc and Cotte, who occasionally 

 quote Mariotte's observation, omit it in the facts for which 

 they vouch. 



I. Southern and Northern Hemisphere. 



Law of rotation in the northern : S. W. N. E. S. 

 southern : S. E. N. W. S. 



1. I am indebted to the kindness of Captain Wendt, who 

 sailed round the world several times as commander of the 

 Prussian ship Princess Louise, in answer to an inquiry ad- 

 dressed to him, for the following notice : 



" The wind in the southern hemisphere usually turns from 

 north through west to south and south-east. Its direction 

 consequently is contrary to that of the wind in the northern 

 hemisphere. To the best of my knowledge the fact is nearly 

 as follows : Near the Cape of Good Hope in summer, the 

 wind is chiefly SE. but if the wind turns northerly, it is then 

 more violent. When the best summer months are at an end, 

 after a calm of short duration the wind usually blows very 

 moderately from SE., with an unusually clear sky. The 

 wind is continually increasing, whenever it turns easterly; and 

 if it has turned to the north, clouds and lightning are sure 

 to appear on the western horizon, and in less than half an hour 

 a storm from WNW. will ensue, and will not cease until, 

 after 24? or 48 hours, it has veered more to the south." 



" Near Cape Horn, both to the E. and W., with a north 

 wind there is generally good weather ; when it veers to the 

 NW. it soon blows hard; with a WNW. to SW. it usually 

 blows a storm (which is also frequently the case from WNW. 

 and NW.). The wind subsides as it becomes southerly. 

 SSE. fine weather, frequently succeeded by a calm." 



2. JEthiopic Sea.—(Le Gentil)*. " On the 25th and 26th we 

 experienced a kind of gust {coup de vent) from north to south- 

 west by west, and I remarked a fact which you have had oppor- 



* Voyage dans let Mers de VInde, ii. p. 701 ; Lettre a M. de la Kux. 



