On t?ie Seiches of the Lake of Geneva. 293 



1 had previously taken the trouble accurately to inquire of 

 the inhabitants if they were acquainted with the phenomenon of 

 the seiche, which I had used all pains to explain to them. They 

 unanimously answered, that the surface-level of the lake never 

 varied suddenly, but that the waters rose and fell on account of 

 rain or drought. It is notwithstanding certain, according to the 

 observations just alluded to, that this lake exhibits them, like 

 the others that have been noticed. They are undoubtedly less 

 than those of Geneva, but they also resemble them in that they 

 take place in the same intervals of time, and that they appear 

 more conspicuous towards the exit of the river than farther up. 



The last lake which, in the year 1803, was examined at my 

 request, was that of Constance. This lake was of great import- 

 ance in the question, both on account of its size, and of its nar- 

 rowing, which gave it a resemblance to Geneva ; and I had 

 heard, in a casual way, that the seiches had been observed upon 

 it. I requested Mr Roux-Bordier, a distinguished amateur in 

 natural history and physics, who was at the time making a jour- 

 ney in the eastern parts of Switzerland, to have the kindness to 

 bestow some attention on the subject. This he promised ; and, 

 on his return, informed me that there were in truth seiches on 

 the Lake of Constance, and that the Messrs Macaires, respect- 

 able merchants in the town of Constance, and on the banks of 

 the lake, would supply me with all the information I could de- 

 sire. I wrote then, to these gentlemen, and received an ample 

 and precise answer. ' f 



They stated thatlhere were seiches in the Lake of Constance, 

 but that they were more moderate and less frequent than those 

 of the Lake of Geneva. They believed that they could only be 

 seen close to the town, and at a small distance from it, and that 

 the rise never exceeded from 4 to 8 inches. They thought, too, 

 tliat their continuance was for a longer period than at Geneva; 

 but, on this point, they state that they have not made any ac- 

 curate observation. They also state, that there is a current in 

 the Lake. Constance, which begins to be perceptible at about 

 two-thirds of a mile from the town. I have consulted other 

 people who lived in Constance, and who all remember having 

 seen seiches there. They could not accurately assign their maxi- 

 mum, but they must have been to the extent of several inches, 



