136 OBSEEVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



long. 35°, in the months of September, October, and November ; while to 

 the East of 80°, between these parallels, they are most variable in February, 

 March, April, and October. 



" dth. That between lat. 10° and 15°, to the West of 35°, they are steadily 

 between E.N.E. and S.E., except in July, August, September, October, 

 and November, when they are more variable, being most variable in the 

 three months first named. To the East of 35° W., between these parallels, 

 they may be said to lose their Trade character during the months of July, 

 August, September, and October, particularly in August and September, 

 when they blow nearly alike from the four quarters. Calms, too, are more 

 frequent here in these months. 



" 5th. That between the Equator and 10° N., to the East of long. 30°, 

 the winds assume a new feature. It may be said, almost literally, that in 

 this part of the ocean they uniformly blow, when they blow at all, during 

 the months of July, August, and September, from some point between S.E. 

 and West. They blow most between South and W.S.W., and very rarely 

 from any point between North and E.S.E. To the West of this meridian, 

 during the same months, they blow most between S.E. andN.E., inclining 

 more and more to the North as you go West. These are the months in 

 which the winds vary in this part of the ocean." 



(62.) The following are Captain Toynbee's remarks which accompany 

 the Monthly Charts* of the Prevailing Winds in the region of the Atlantic 

 between lat. 20° N. and 10° S., and long. 10° to 40° W. In the chapter 

 of this work devoted to Passages, some illustrations will be found, together 

 with Captain Toynbee's remarks on the Best Eoute across the Equator. 



January. — Since December, the N.E. Trade has advanced about 2° to 

 the Southward on the Western side of the district where it now prevails to 

 the Equator ; but on the Eastern side it holds much the same position as 

 in December. On the Eastern side it falls lighter and draws more Northerly 

 than it does farther to the Westward, while near to the African land it 

 becomes very light and North- Westerly. It has decidedly increased in force 

 since December. In Square 40 it is very squally and gusty, much more so 

 than in the Squares to the Eastward, which is the more remarkable as 

 Square 40 is open sea, whilst Square 39 contains the Cape Verde Islands. 

 Perhaps the proximity of Square 40 to the area of high pressure may have 

 something to do with it, as the gusts often come vdth a clear sky and with 

 very little wind between them, as though they were the effect of down- 

 ward rushes of dry air. Sharp gusts with blue sky, very cool weather, 

 and the atmosphere very transparent, are often experienced at the Polar 

 verge of each Trade. 



The S.E. Trade only prevails to the Equator on the Western side of the 

 district; to 4° N. in its central part; and there is a prevailing Southerly 

 •wind up to 8° N. on its extreme Eastern side, but it is very light, and 

 the weather very unsettled. Near the Equator the S.E. Trade has very 

 ^decidedly decreased in force since December. 



* " Meteorological Data for the nine 10' squares of the Atlantic, which lie between 

 lat. 20° N. and 10' S., and extend from long. 10^ to 40° W.," published by authority of 

 the Meteorological Comuaittee, 1876. 



