432 Weather Prophecies. [O¢tober, 
great atmospheric currents—the surface currents and the 
upper currents alike—the polar streams which descend into 
our valleys with their blasting frosts, and the ‘‘aérial gulf 
streams” which move invisibly, but with benign influence, 
above our heads. The great problem, therefore, in this 
view for the modern meteorologist is to produce a chart of 
the upper atmosphere. If the mechanics of the circulation 
of the air were half so clearly unfolded as those of oceanic 
circulation, the science of storm-warning would receive an 
immense impulse. Weearnestly, but respectfully, commend 
the subject to the congress of meteorologists soon to convene. 
II. WEATHER PROPHECIES. 
ee science of the weather may be said to have sprung 
up within the last half century, and we must not 
therefore wonder that, until very recently, meteoro- 
logical science has rather been concerned with the weather 
as it has been, than in prophecying what kind of weather 
may be expected. Indeed, this is almost the case at the 
present day ; for were it not for the telegraph, storm-signals 
would be of little avail. Much was gained when, from the 
conclusions drawn from a large number of observations, a 
storm could be telegraphed from any place as coming, instead 
of as happened. ‘This stage of the science is perhaps as far 
as can be usually attained in the present day; in some 
future time, from the careful study of the laws, it may be 
possible to predict, with average certainty, the state of the 
weather from day to day, or even for several days to come. 
It remains to be seen how far this power has been attained ; 
and it may not be uninteresting to notice, in passing, the 
very unstable ground upon which weather predictions were 
founded before meteorology included this second division. 
Whether we take as type the old dame’s faith in the 
gambols of her cat, the high flight of some birds and the 
low flight of others, the ‘‘camel” in the clouds, the chir- 
ruping of grasshoppers, or Marshal Beaugaud’s rule— 
‘¢ Primus, secundus, tertius, nullus, 
Quartus, aliquis, 
Quintus, sextus, qualis; 
Tota Luna talis ”»— 
we have much the same arbitrary system, or rather want of 
system, although these signs may not be without some 
