M. Arago on Thunder and Lightning. 275 



lent storms began, which continued with but little interruption 

 till the end of the month, and in this as in several following 

 contests, the SW. obtained the predominance, in consequence 

 of which a winter that was not much colder ensued. Thus the 

 weather from the summer of 1833 till the winter of 1835, was 

 remarkable for the unusual series of changes which it presented, 

 according as the one or the other of these two winds blew 

 more frequently than usual ; but, as I have already observed, 

 such a fact does not stand in an isolated position, but is inti- 

 mately connected with the successive states of the weather 

 over all the other parts of the earth. The summer of 1833 

 which was so wet in Europe, was distinguished for its unusual 

 dryness in Asia, viz. in Hindostan, and also in South Ame- 

 rica; the winter of 1833-4, on account of its extreme cold, was 

 very unfavourable to the investigations of Captain Back in the 

 interior of North America. The storm at the end of October 

 1834, made its appearance not merely in Europe, for unusually 

 violent commotions in the atmosphere occurred simultaneously 

 on the whole east coast of America. These are facts which 

 abundantly prove, that, in changes of the weather, Nature does 

 not rule in an arbitrary manner, but that also here eternal and 

 immutable laws exist. — (From Schumacher's " Jahrhuchfur 

 1838.^) 



On Thunder and Lightning. By M. Arago. (Continued 

 from p. 144.) 



Concerning the means by the aid of which it is pretended that 

 EDIFICES are protected against injury from lightning. 



Columella reports that Tarchon imagined that he had com- 

 pletely screened himself from the injurious attacks of lightning, 

 by surrounding his dwelling with white vines. Nearly two 

 thousand years have supplied no additional information con- 

 cerning white vines, so that we are unacquainted with the 



* In the south of Europe, and especially in Italy, when the labourers see 

 a branch of vine in which the leaves and fruit are completely dried up, they 

 never fail to ascribe it to the efifects of lightning. 



