STORIJ 



HURRICANES, AXD TYPHOONS. 



413 



branches, as it were. It remains to be seen whether cyclones do 

 not do the same at sea ; and whether, in those widespread and 

 devastating storms that now and then sweep over the ocean, 

 there be only one vortex or several ; and if only one, whether 

 the whole storm partake of the cyclone character. In other 

 words, may there not be a storm within a storm — that is, a 

 cyclone travelling with the storm and revolving in it ? I ask the 

 question because the theory, as at present expounded, does not 

 satisfy all the facts observed ; and because the existence of storms 

 or whirlwinds within a storm would. 



803. The celebrated Black Sea storm of 1854, which did so 

 The Black Sea storm Hiuch damage to the allied fleet, is still maintained 

 **^^''^^*' by some to be a true cyclone ; and by the observa- 

 tions of some of the vessels a cyclone may be made out. But if 

 we take the observations of all of them, and discuss them upon 

 the supposition that the whole storm was a cyclone, it will puzzle 

 any one to make anything of them. Admiral Fitzroy, in the 

 Meteorological Papers of the Board of Trade, published diagrams 

 of the winds as observed during that storm on board of various 

 vessels in various parts of that sea. I have not been able to 

 reconcile them with the cyclone theory. Espy maintains that 

 they confirm his theory ; and his (§ 787) is anti-cyclonic. 



804. The cyclones of the North Atlantic take their rise gene- 

 Cyciones of the rally (§ 785) somowhero between the parallels of 

 North Atlantic. IQ^ and 20' uorth. They take a westerly course 

 until they fall in with the Gulf Stream, when they turn about 

 and run along upon it until their force is expended. The atmo- 

 sphere over the Gulf Stream is generally well charged with 

 moisture, and in this fact perhaps will be found the reason why 

 (§ 176) the path of the storm is laid along the Gulf Stream. 



The hurricane 



se.sou. ^qq]^ of Storms 



805. The following table is from Birt's Hand- 



Average Numher of Cyclones or Hurricanes which have occurred in different 

 Months of the Year, and in various Regions. 



