342 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Oct. 



ing, among other things, information, at least, concerning the 

 distribution of animal and vegetable life beneath the waters. 



Waves — their origin, the mechanism of their motion, their 

 velocity, their elevation, the resistance they offer, to vessels of 

 given form : these subjects have been firmly kept in view by the Asso- 

 ciation, since first Professor Challis (s) reported on the mathemati- 

 cal problems they suggest, and Sir J. Robinson and Mr. Scott 

 Russell undertook to study them experimentally (t). Out of this 

 enquiry has come a better knowledge of the forms which ought 

 to be given to the ' lines ' of ships, followed by swifter passages 

 across the sea, both by sailing vessels and steamers, of larger size 

 and greater lengths than ever tried before, (u) 



One of the earliest subjects to acquire importance in our 

 thoughts, was the unexplored region of meteorology laid open in 

 Professor J. Forbes' Reports (x). Several of the points to which 

 he called attention have been successfully attained. The admira- 

 ble instruments of Whewell, Osier, and Robinson have replaced 

 the older and ruder anemometers, and are everywhere in full ope- 

 ration, to record the momentary variations of pressure, or sum the 

 varying velocities of the wind. No small thanks were due to Mr. 

 Marshall and Mr. Miller (3/) for their enterprise and perseverance 

 in placing rain gauges and thermometers amidst the peaks of 

 Cumberland and Westmoreland. These experiments are now 

 renewed in both countries, and in North Wales; and I hope to 

 hear of similar efforts anions the mountains of the west of 

 Ireland and the west of Scotland. Our meteorological instruments 

 of every kind have been improved ; our system of photographic 

 registration has spread from Kew into other observatories ; and 

 our corresponding member, Professor Dove, has collected into sys- 

 tematic maps and tables the lines and figures, which represent 

 annual and monthly climate over every land and sea. 



In the same manner, by no sudden impulse or accidental cir- 

 cumstance, rose to its high importance that great system of magnetic 

 observations, on which for more than a quarter of a century the Brit- 



(s) Reports of the British Association, 1833, 1836. 



(t) Ibid., 1837 and following years. 



(u) Ibid., 1840-1843. 



(x) Reports of the British Association, 1832-1840. 



(;/) Mr. Marshall's observations were made in Patterdale, Mr. Miller's 

 about Wastdale Head. (British Association Reports for 1846, and Royal 

 Society's Transactions, 1850.) 



