13 



EELATIVE FEEQUENCY OF THE WINDS AT THE 

 FOLLOWINa STATIONS, LYING WITHIN A 

 PARALLEL OF SOUTH LATITUDE ABOUT 10° 35'. 



By Francis Abbott, F.E.A.S., F.E.M.S. Eead at a meeting 

 of the Eojal Society of Tasmania^ 14tli May, 1867. 



In comparing meteorological returns lately received from the above 

 Stations with those of Hobart Town, a remarkable difference is apparent 

 iiithe conduct of the various currents of the atmospheric air, and the anomaly- 

 becomes much increased in looking for an authority to confirm its correct- 

 ness. The parallel of latitude, including the three places, lies between 32° 

 17' 30" and 42* 52' 13". In this high latitude neither Professor Dove nor L; 

 F. Kaemtz give any testimony of value, their authority seldom reaching 

 further south than the Indian Ocean, or the region of the S.E. trade 

 •winds. In the Physical Atlas the belt comprising the above latitude is 

 described as being situated in the N.W. currents of air ; the author, how- 

 ever, in quoting Kaemtz (page 55), says that it is admitted the number of 

 observations is not sufficient to warrant the conclusion that the exception 

 given is well founded. Lieutenant, now Captain, Maury gives but little 

 credit to any but westerly winds in the Southern Ocean ; they are repre- 

 sented in his plate (8) by arrow-heads, and described by him as prevailing 

 in high latitudes all along the South Seas, in a direction S.W. to N.W., 

 inclined to W. It will appear on the face of the table that these authori- 

 ties do not correspond with registered facts. At Auckland, the prevailing 



