STORMS, HURRICANES, AND TYPHOONS. 



429 



observations 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 Fitz- 

 roy, 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. Cyclones of the North Atlantic. — The cylones of the North 

 Atlantic take their rise generally (§ 785) somewhere between 

 the parallels of 10^ and 20^ north. 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. 



805. TJie hurricane season. — The following table is from Birt's 

 Handbook of Storms : 



Average. Number of Cyclones or Hurricanes which have occurred in different 

 3Ionfhs of the Year, and in various Regions. 



80(3. Cijclones in the Mississippi Valley. — The vortex of a cyclone 

 is often and aptly compared to a meteor. I have often observed 

 the paths of such through the forests of the Mississippi Valley, 

 and the path of one of these "whirlwinds" as they are there 

 called has in no instance that has fallen under my observation 

 been more than a few hundred yards broad. There the track of 

 these tornadoes is called a " wind-road," because they make an 

 avenue through the wood straight along, and as clear of trees 

 as if the old denizens of the forest had been felled with an axe. 

 I have seen trees three or four feet in diameter torn up by the 

 roots, and the top, with its limbs, lyinG; next the hole whence 



