114 Observations on the Husricanes and Storms 
Arr. XV.—Observations on the Hurricanes and Storms of the 
West Indies and the coast of the U. States; by W. C. Reprieiy.* 
Ir has been found by a careful attention to the progress and phe- 
nomena of the more violent storms which have visited the West- 
ern Atlantic, that they exhibit certain characteristics of great uni- 
formity. This appears, not only in the determinate course which 
these storms are found to pursue, but in the direction of wind, and 
succession of changes which they exhibit while they continue in ac- 
tion. The same general characteristics appear also to pertain, in 
some degree, to many of the more common variations and_vicissi- 
tudes of winds and weather, at leastin the temperate latitudes. The 
following points may be considered as established. 
. The storms of greatest severity often originate in the tropical 
latitudes, and not unfrequently, to the northward or eastward of the 
West India Islands; in which region they are distinguished by the 
name of hurricanes. 
2. These storms cover at the same moment of time, an extent of 
contiguous surface, the diameter of which may vary in different 
storms, from one to five hundred miles, and in some cases they haye 
been much more extensive. They act with diminished violence to- 
wards the exterior, and with increased energy towards the interior, 
of the space which they occupy. 
3. While in the tropical latitudes, or south of the parallel of 30°, 
these storms pursue their course or are drifted towards the west, on 
a track which inclines gradually to the northward, till it Approaches 
the latitude of 30°. In the vicinity of this parallel, their course is 
changed somewhat abruptly to the northward and eastward, and the 
track continues to incline gradually to the east, towards which point, 
after leaving the lower latitudes, they are found to advance with an 
accelerated velocity. 
e rate at which these storms are found thus to adyance in their 
course, varies much in different cases, but may be estimated at from 
twelve to thirty miles an hour. The extent to which their course is 
finally pursued, remains unknown; but it is. probable, that as they 
* From Blunt’s American Coast Pilot, twelfth edition—Mr. Redfield’s paper on 
this subject (see Vol. xx. pa. 17 of this Journal) having been received with no small 
interest, ae revised view which he has prepared cannot be unacceptable. 
