TRADE-WINDS OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 349 



CHAPTER XX. 



FORCE OF THE TRADE-WINDS OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. — 

 PECULIARITIES IN ITS ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION. 



The Spirit in which the Researches touching the Physics of the Sea have been con- 

 ducted, § 1002. — Reasons for supposing Crossings of the Air in the Calm Belts, 

 1003. — The "brave west Winds" of the Southern Hemisphere; their Strength 

 and Regularity, 1004. — Counter-trades, 1005. — Measuring the Strength of the 

 Trade-winds, 1006.— The S.E. stronger than the N.E. Trade-winds, 1007.— 

 Waves, 1008. — New Facts in Meteorology, 1009. — Calms and Gales on opposite 

 Sides of the Equator compared, 1010. — The propelling Power of the Winds of 

 the Southern Hemisphere; whence derived, 1011. — Why do the Counter-trades 

 blow toward the Poles? 1012. — Precipitation between the Parallels of 55° and 

 60° N. and S. compared, 1013.— A heavy Rain-fall, 1014.— The Counter-trades 

 of the Southern Hemisphere vapor-bearing Winds, 1015. — The latent Heat of 

 Vapor, 1016.— Its Amount, 1017.— Icebergs, their Offices, etc., 1018.— The 

 physical Features of the Antarctic Continent, 1019. — Precipitation the Cause 

 of the low Barometer in high southern Latitudes, 1020. — A perpetual Cyclone, 

 1021.— Conclusions, 1022.— Dr. Jilek's Description of the Antarctic Regions, 

 1023. 



1002. Whenever, in tlie course of my investigations toucHng 

 tlie physics of sea and air, new facts have been elicited, I have, 

 if they appeared consistent enough to be suggestive, never hesi- 

 tated to follow them up with suggestions, especially if hypothesis 

 seemed to be called for. The principle by which I have sought 

 to be governed is this : fairly to weigh the facts under discussion, 

 and then to offer in explanation that hypothesis which would 

 apparently best reconcile them. In case I could not reconcile all 

 by any one supposition, the preference has been given to that 

 hypothesis which would reconcile the greatest number. Then, as 

 additional facts were developed, the hypothesis was, if necessary, 

 discarded or amended, as the new lights seemed to require. 



As an investigator in the particular field to which much of my 

 labor is directed, I do not consider that I should content myself 

 by merely stating observations and facts. It is the business of 

 the investigator to let those who labor with him have the bene- 

 fit of his thoughts and conclusions as well as a fair statement of 

 his facts. Such thoughts, though they be founded in misappre- 



