440 METEOROLOGY. 



sphere assume a cTiaracter of simplicity niiknowii in higher latitudes, I 

 have more and more felt the necessity of a reform of Howard's nom- 

 enclature. I was unable to understand his straius, nimbus, cumulo- 

 sfraius, and strato-cuniulus. It was not until I had an opportunity to 

 consult Howard's original work that I perceived the errors into which 

 Kiimtz and other meteorologists had fallen. I had then to introduce 

 into Howard's classification the modifications which the continued prog- 

 ress of meteorology requires, in order that the nomenclature may 

 be more in harmony with our advances in this line. I acknowledge 

 with pleasure that Howard's classification, which has existed without a 

 rival for more than half a century, was originally based upon profound 

 study, directed by great acuteness of observation ; unhapi^ily, however, 

 it is too plainly stamped by the locality where his studies were prose- 

 cuted. I refer to the gray and cloudy sky of Great Britain, whence 

 result his sfrato-mist, his imperfect distinction of the two great strata 

 cirrus and cumulus, or his nimhus, (the rain-cloud,) the difference which 

 he has established between cumulus and cumulo-stratus, besides many 

 other faulty details of description in relation to cirrus, cirro-stratus, and 

 cirro-cumulus. 



I shall now proceed to give the derivation of my three new clouds. 

 When certain clouds spread out uniformly over the whole face of the 

 heavens and assume a gray or ash color, under which state rain may 

 occur for hours or wdiole days, what name do we give them? They are 

 not Howard's nimbus, as we conceive them, and as they are generally 

 described; they are neither stormy nor electrical ; they yield only a fine 

 and continuous ra,in. Under this stratum we see constantly other clouds 

 of more or less extent, but always isolated, becoming lost in it and 

 increasing its thickness. But just before this stratum begins to break 

 up, and during this operation, we see these same formless fragments 

 detach themselves and fly to other regions. This inferior stratum is not 

 alone; for when its disruption is completed we see through it another 

 stratum of clouds, whiter and less dense, which breaks up in its turn, 

 and ends by disappearing in an opposite direction to that of the inferior 

 stratum. Have we a name for this variety of cloud so common in time 

 of rain from the inter-tropical regions to high latitudes, especially in 

 winter during the fall of snow? Does Howard's term nimhus and his 

 description of it answer for its designation? Certainly not. We apply 

 the name nimbus to the single storm-cloud, as well as to this inferior 

 stratum, or to the united strata, and this without electrical manifesta- 

 tions. To this cloud I give the name ])a]Uum. When the superior 

 stratum is formed of cirrus it constitutes the iKtlUo-cirrus, and when the 

 inferior stratum is formed of cuninlns it constitutes the imllio-cumulus. 

 The fragments of clouds, which differ entirely from the cumulus or cumulo- 

 stratus, are the fracto-cumuUcs. 



From what has been said, the necessity of distinguishing these two 

 strata bj- different names is evident ; but this necessity results, more- 



