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results that can be regarded as conclusive. The number of 

 stations must be multiplied, as well as the number of observers, 

 and the observations continued over a long term of years, so as 

 to include several sun-spot cycles, which may not all yield results 

 of the same value. The heating and other energies of the sun, 

 however they may vary, must affect our earth as a whole, and only 

 comparative observations, made contemporaneously in as many 

 diflferent parts of the earth as possible, can help us to determine 

 Avhat the sun's influence in respect of these spots really is. At 

 the same time it must be borne in mind that every place we fix 

 upon has its own climatal peculiarities, and that if there be such 

 a law as we are led to suspect and look for — a law, viz., of 

 common periodicity in sun-spot activity and the meteorological 

 conditions of our earth — it is but a general law which will be 

 subjected to, and sometimes over-ruled hy, the local surroundings. 

 But we must not stop longer on this part of our subject. As 

 regards cyclones, it is satisfactory to think that sun-spot influence 

 has been more successfully traced here than in the case of any 

 other terrestrial phenomena affected by fluctuations of solar 

 activity, except those relating to magnetism and electricity. It 

 leads us to hope that a day may come when we may be able to 

 predict not merely the near approach of a storm, but the par- 

 ticular years and seasons in which they are most likely to occur. 

 And the importance of any addition to our knowledge of these 

 destructive agencies cannot be over-estimated. In an article in 

 The Times of October 20th, 1877, headed "A Year's Wrecks," tho 

 number reported for the year 1875-6 was set at 3,757, being 167 

 in excess of previous years. The average number — between 2,000 

 and 3,000 — was said of late years to have increased. This may 

 arise in part from increased ocean transit, and the multiplied 

 number of vessels engaged in trade and commerce at the present 

 day. Nor of course were all these wrecks occasioned by gales — 

 many may have been due to other causes. Yet it is a remark- 

 able circumstance that the marine casualties themselves have 



