BY THE REV. W. B. CLARKE, M.A., F.G.S. &c., V.P. 169 



turning seawards as west winds, the curves, as it were, touching 

 at the point where a common tangent would stretch away towards 

 the West Coast, and where, according to observation, the trees 

 lean from the west." 



One of the points which I proposed to elucidate, was that " some 

 of the southerly gales off the East Coast of Australia come from 

 the north (as they should do), if there be any truth in the laws 

 affirmed for the southern hemisphere." 



In allusion to the prevalence of winds on the south coast, I 

 have cited several instances in which, what is general for South 

 Australia, the winds veered from left to right. 



In subsequent papers during several years I published 

 observations on the storms along the east coast, and especially on 

 thunder-storms ; and of these I had logged down carefully with 

 barometers, thermometers, and time-keeper close at hand, every 

 few minutes or seconds, every change that occurred. Many of 

 these I now produce. Much, however, of the matter I had 

 prepared I sent, at the request of Admiral Erskine and by his 

 hands, to the late Colonel Reid. 



My object in alluding to these descriptions is to show that 

 during the time when meteorological observations had not been 

 commenced here as a public duty and the facilities were far less 

 than they are at present, private observers were at work and 

 recorded their discoveries, just as Mr. Tebbutt is now doing with 

 such praise -worthy industry. The appeal to private observers, 

 at the close of his paper, has therefore already had encourage- 

 ment beforehand. 



Another object in referring to my own pursuits, in connection 

 with the study of storms, is to justify the observations which I 

 wish to offer on Mr. Tebbutt's paper, as proving that I enter 

 upon its discussion with some claim to offer an opinion, inas- 

 much as I speak as much from observation as from theoretical 

 views. And I may say that T have recorded far more observations 

 on this subject than I have ever had leisure to put in print. 

 What I have been enabled to do in the latter way has, I am 

 happy to know, met the approval of others ; and not only has Dr. 

 Leichhardt, but Mr. Piddington of Calcutta has also mentioned 

 my old labours with approval. (Sailor's Horn Book, 2nd Ed., 

 p. 631.) 



