MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 689 



the successful cultivation of the former, considerable 

 chemical and mathematical knowledge are neces- 

 sary. For those who wish to pursue these subjects, 

 the best works in English are, "LyelFs Principles of 

 Geology/' Sir H. De la Beche's " How to observe ; 

 Geology/' Ansted's " Elementary Course of Geo- 

 logy, &c./' MantelFs " Medals of Creation/' Rich- 

 ardson's " Geology/' Dana's "Mineralogy;" and for 

 an acquaintance with the principles of chemical ana- 

 lysis, Bullock's translation of Fresenius's " Chemical 

 Analysis." 



IV. METEOROLOGY. 



Although we have been precluded by the length 

 to which this volume has already extended, from 

 treating of Meteorology somewhat in detail, still it 

 may prove of service if we simply mention the pre- 

 parations which ought to be made by any traveller 

 desirous of attending to this very important branch 

 of science, and give some indications of the chief 

 points to which his attention should be directed. 

 The meaning of the term is frequently misunder- 

 stood, thereby frequently preventing its full value 

 from being appreciated ; it is by many looked upon 

 as merely the study of aerial curiosities, whereas, it 

 strictly comprehends an enquiry into the nature, the 

 changes, and the influences exerted by, or upon, our 

 atmosphere ; including, amongst its varied topics, the 

 winds, rain, hail, snow, and electrical phenomena, as 



