Particulars respecting Hail Storms in the IVest Indies. 191 



uses are also similar. The large circular trachea, which we ob- 

 serve ill the compound eyes when they present a choroid, does 

 not seem to exist in the simple eyes. In fact, the tracheae or 

 pneu!T)atic pouches which belong to them are used in supporting 

 the optic nen-e, and perhaps also in forming a part of the cho- 

 roid in tliat sort of eye. At lenst the trachea of insects seem to 

 perform the fimctions of the blood-vessels which are observed on 

 the choroid of the red-blooded animals. 

 [To be contiiiued.] 



XXXI. Sorne Particulars respecting Hail Sloims in the TFest 

 Indies in the Month of April 1814; and Experiments to 

 ascertain the medicinal Powers of the Hura crepitans. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



rry Nevis, Jnnr Tl. 1814. 



Sir, — X HOUGH I have already commvmicated to Sir Joseph 

 Banks some particulars respecting the late hail storms in this 

 island and Saint Christopher's, a slight notice of their uncom- 

 mon phaenomena raav not be deemed altogether undeserving of 

 a place in vour Magazine. 



The fall of hail intermingled with masses of ice took place in 

 the island of Saint Christopher's at eleven o'clock in the fore- 

 noon of Wednesday the 13th of last April, at which time I was 

 aljsent from that island on a visit to a friend here. The weather 

 had been for some time previous excessively dry, and the heat in 

 general very great ; and even upon the morning of the day on 

 which this phsenomenon appeared, the atmosphere was at an 

 early hour clo=;e, sultry, and oppressive. As the day advanced, 

 black and dense clouds gathered from all sides, and thunder 

 was heard at a distance ; a small quantity of rain fell in the 

 southern and western parts of this island (Nevis), but the thickest 

 part of the storm skirting our northern shores proceeded along 

 the Salt Pond Hills towards the valley of Basseterre (St. Kitts), 

 where an abundance of rain fell. A short time before the hail 

 fell, an unusual and, as some described it, even painful sensation 

 of cold was observed, a loud clap of thunder was heard in the 

 south-cast, and the rattling of the hail iipon the roofs of the 

 houses attracted the attention of the inhabitants little acquainted 

 with the nature of such appearances. 



The fall of hail was by no means general throughout the 

 island, confining itself to certain narrow limits little removed 

 from the line of mountains which, after the manner of the Ap- 

 penin'>s, traverses the centre of the island from east to west. 

 No hail fell at Basseterre j but at the estate called O'Gee, be- 

 longing 



