96 rUYSlOAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA, AND ITS METEOROLOGY. 



shorter period of excessively warm weather.* Thus we infer 

 the existence in the upper air of resei-voirs for the heat as well 

 as of chambers for the cold. 



249. The warm winds of the Andes caused hy the trade-winds. — The 

 streaks of ^^•arm air on the Andes (§ 24G) derive their warmth in 

 all probability from the liberated heat of the trade-wind vapours 

 as they are condensed into snow-storms. 



250. Dormant powers of the telegraph in meteorology. — Spells of 

 wet and dry, as well as " terms " of hot and cold, weather some- 

 times pass over portions of the country like great waves. They 

 occupy hours, or days, or weeks in their march. The magnetic 

 telegraph would, were the system of combined research out of 

 which this work has grown so enlarged as to permit us to use it 

 as a meteorological implement, | enable us to give warning of all 

 such changes in the weather in time for farmers and others, as 

 well as mariners to profit by the foreknowledge. We could 

 foretell the coming of storms also. 



251. Tlie wind in his circuits. — We now see the general course 

 of the " wind in his circuits," as we see the general course of 

 the water in a river. There are many abrading surfaces, irregu- 

 larities, &c., which produce a thousand eddies in the main 

 stream ; yet, nevertheless, the general direction of the whole is 

 not disturbed nor affected by those counter-currents ; so with 

 the atmosphere and the variable winds which we find here in 



* " Heated Wind Stoem. — A heated wind storm passed over a portion of 

 Kansas on the 7th instant (July 1860), which proved nearly as destructive to 

 animal life as the recent tornadoes that visited with such terrible effect portions 

 of Iowa. Tlie wind arose about half-past ten o'clock a.m., and continued until 

 three o'clock in the afternoon. At one o'clock the mercury rose to 119^°, and 

 continued so for about an hour, and then began gradually to decrease. The 

 effect can scarcely be imagined. The wind blew a brisk gale, carrying with it a 

 salty, sulphurous smelh Two men, in attempting to cross the country from 

 lola to Humboldt (distance eight miles), were overtaken and perished. There 

 were three others at Humboldt who were caught out with teams, which perished, 

 the men alone surviving, and are now in a fair way to recover. There was 

 scarcely a chicken left in the country. Hogs and cattle fell in their tracks and 

 suffocated. Various reasons and conjectures as to its caiise are given, but all 

 imsatisfactory.' ' — Newspaper.. 



■[• Arrangements for so using it have already been made in Holland, France, 

 and England, and we hope to see them extended ere long to all otiier countries, 

 and wherever lines of telegraph may go. Though the plan only went into 

 operation in England in Sept. 18G0, Admiral Fitzroy informs me, it is already 

 rich with the promise of practical results the most valuable and important. 

 —London, Nov. 14, 1860. 



