+ 
On Poveliaud Meteorological Observations. 86r 
same phenomenon, still more brilliantly and vividly developed, will 
appear, when, instead of the lens, we employ a concave glass speculum. 
In the same manner, if we affix to the prism a plate of punctured — 
lead and allow a solar beam to. pass through, we may behold, ata 
slight distance from the _— as many s peectre as there are punc- 
turesin the lead. . ah 
s 
as 
Ane, XXII. —On Storms and Mera Observations 5 ry by 
a al ee Univ. N. C. 
» ON THE POSITION OF THE AXIS OF GYRATION IN STORMS. 
“Th the 40th number of this Journal an attempt was made to show 
that certain winds, and amongst other storms those of the Atlantic 
Coast are the result of a gyratory movement of the air about an axis 
paralle} to the plane of the horizon. In a paper by Mr. Redfield in 
‘last or 41st number, whilst the correctness of the views just re- 
ferred to, so far as thunder storms are concerned, is allowed, it is con- 
tended that in the great tempests that sweep along our sea board, 
Syration is about an axis either perpendicular or ‘Hiodernaly 4 inc } 
tothe horizon. The author of the first of these communications — 
does not find himself warranted in abandoning the opinions originally 
advanced by him, and begs leave here to offer ‘the following additional 
remarks, 
A sound theory of storms must fulsthroe conditions. 
1. It must account for the charactefiatics of the wind which con- 
stitutes an important part, though by 1 no means: ‘the whole of the phe- 
nomena, its direction, velocity, etc. 
2. It must account for the precipitation of moisture under the form 
f rain, hail, or snow. 
. Lhe motion ascribed by it to the aerial currents must be such 
ites causes known to be active upon the earth’s surface, Baye a ten- 
dency to generate. 
‘la my own paper, each of chisae points- ‘reoeived’ particular disuph 
Perhaps not satisfactory notice, and I should. not have ventured to” 
offer it for publication if I had not. supposed that the theory contained | 
in it was shown to satisfy the three conditions. Mr. Redfield’s at~ 
tention is directed almost exclusively to the course, velocity, and 
changes of the wind. His theory does not and cannot account for 
the rain and snow, and that the motion ascribed by it to the air is such 
