Ei seh maa 
co? 
On the Courses of Hurricanes. 209 
eo of the China Sea. 
It can hardly be doubted that the general course which is pur- 
sued by hurricanes, is the same as that of the general mass of at- 
mosphere or winds by which they are surrounded, and of which 
they form an integral portion. It becomes, therefore, a point of 
some importance in meteorology, to ascertain the true course of 
the hurricanes or tyfoons of the Asiatic seas. Should this course 
prove to be in conformity with the existing monsoons, this would 
be in accordance, it is believed, with the analogies in the tropical 
latitudes of the Atlantic ; at least, if we have regard to the entire 
stratum: of winds whieh lies below the common height of the 
clouds. But if the general course pursued by these storms, be the 
very same with those of the corresponding latitudes of the Atlan- 
tic, in which there are no monsoons, it may serve to show that 
‘the westerly monsoons, which are opposed to the course of the 
regular trade winds, consist only of a misplaced or minor stratum 
of” current, which forms a thin layer of surface wind, less general 
- than that of the regtilar trades, and which is therefore inefficient 
in opposing the progress of a great hurricane ;—the latter. being 
impelled by the stronger and more general curfent of the regular 
trade wind; which is supposed to overlie, at all times, the stra~ 
tum of Piiaplaned current which forms the westerly monsoon. 
These remarks will apply equally to the monsoons of both - 
north and south latitude. Col. Reid has been fortunate in ob- 
taining full evidence of the opposite recurvation of a hurricane in 
South latitude, in open sea, and during the prevalence of the north- 
West monsoon ; a result whieh can hardly be too highly valued. 
This storm, however, (Culloden’s hurricane, of March, 1809,) was 
encountered to the: southward: of the limits of the northwest 
monsoon in the Indian ocean ; but ‘the hurricane of the. 
noticed by Col. Reid, was exposed to the full influence of this 
monsoon. It becomes important, therefore, to ascertain its pa 
in order that the influence of the monsoon upon its course rnaey 
be duly appreciated ; and we hope that its path may yet be 
ascertained. 
In regard to the northern hemisphere, Col. Reid has given us 
notices of several hurricanes or tyfoons in the Asiatic seas, with 
_ ho indications of a course different from those in the North At- 
_ lantic. The following generalization, grounded on independent 
27 
Vo AV .—No. 2. 
