56 Literary Notices. 



the 5th, if not earlier, frost may be expected to set in ; and 

 the greatest cold may be expected to occur in the night of the 

 13th, or morning of the 14th, succeeded by a thaw. From 

 this period to the 22d, the weather will be squally, with rain ; 

 and this will be followed with frosty, dry, and harsh weather, 

 till the end of the month. 



It was suggested that meteorologists should rigorously 

 observe the phenomena during the month, and accurately 

 record their observations, and also report them to the So- 

 ciety, with a view to determine how far Mr. Murphy's <; anti- 

 cipations" may be proved to have been correct. At the next 

 meeting, to be held on Jan. 10. 1837, Mr. Murphy will explain 

 to the Society the courses of the late gales, their periodicity, 

 and the method by which he prognosticates the changes of 

 the weather for a period of twelve months in advance. 



Mr. Birt (author of Tabula Anemologica?) explained the 

 principles of his method of registering the direction of the 

 wind, and other meteorological phenomena, by which the 

 curves of variation are delineated in a manner that is calcu- 

 lated to facilitate the comparison of the courses of the aerial 

 current, either at distant points, or at periods long past. In 

 the tables with which this method was illustrated, Mr. Birt 

 directed the attention of the members to the circumstances 

 that the curves presented similar portions, and that the same 

 curves frequently reoccurred ; thus indicating that the phe- 

 nomena are of a periodical nature. As a remarkable instance 

 of this, he observed that the same curve was described in 

 June, 1833, and June, 1836, the weather on both occasions 

 being similar.* 



[Communications on subjects connected with meteorological 

 phenomena, journals, &c, are requested to be addressed to 

 the secretary, Mr. W« II. White, 4. Worship Square, Lon- 

 don. — Ed.] 



Art. III. Literary Notices. 



In immediate preparation, a History of British Birds, in 

 2 vols., by Mr. Yarrell; and a History of British Reptiles, in 

 1 vol., by Mr. Bell. These works, with the British Fishes 

 now finished, and British Quadrupeds now in course of publi- 

 cation, will complete a uniform series of the vertebrate animals 

 of Great Britain, in 6 vols. 



In the press, and will shortly appear, in one vol. 12mo, 

 with numerous engravings, The Wonders of Gcologij, by Dr. 

 Mantell, F.R.S. F.G.S., &c. 



* We are indebted to Mr. While and Mr. Birt for the above report. 



