390 Proceedings of the British Association 
o the amount of one-twelfih of the whole, or forty-nine feet—the effect 
os the calculated velocity of the wave would have been only about 
a sixteenth, gr 2:16 miles per hour. The form and character of these 
deep-sea waves became at the same time interesting subjects of obser- 
* Yation and consideration. In respect to. form, we have perpetual modi- 
fications and varieties, from the circumstance of - ae ask of op- 
eration. of the power by which the waves are form Vere the wind 
- portcealy uniform in, direction and force, and of os continuance, 
we might have in wide: and deep seas, waves of perfectly regular form- 
tion. - But no such: ‘equality i in the wind ever exists. It is pe erpetually ° 
anging its’ direction. within certain limits, and its force too, both in the 
ace-atd in proximate quarters Tnnum erable disturbing, "ge 
regard 
“the actual forms of waves, nothing particularly new could be expected 
ee from ¢ an inquiry of this kind ingregard to phenomena falling within the 
es perpetual observation of sea-going persons; yet, at the risk of stating 
~ what might be deemed common, Twill venture to transcribe from my 
_ holes made with ‘the phenomen a before me, the leading characteristics 
which engaged my attention. Dating the height of the gale ( 
6th) the Jorm of the waves was less regular than after the. wi ae, 
was highest the succession of the primary waves was perfectly 
, it was rather difficult to trace an "entice! ridge for Hoenn a quarter 
toa third of a mile. ‘The grand elevation in such case sometimes eX- 
tended by a straight ridge or was sometimes bent as of a crescent form, 
with the central mass of water higher than the rest, and, not unfrequentlys 
_ with two or three semi-elliptical mounds in diminishing series, on either 
side of iB highest peak. These principal waves, too, it should eh 
, Were not continuously regular, but had embodied in their gene 
mass many minor, secondary and inferior waves. Neither did 
great waves go very prevalently in long parallel series like those ag 
tarded by shallow water on approaching the shore; but every now and 
then changed into a bent cuneiform crest with breaking acuminating 
peaks. On the Sey hen spowitg (March 7,) after a aécond stormy 
ight, wind 5.S.W. (fine), w a heavy and somewhat cross sea 
unabated magnitude of the more westerly waves indicated a continu- 
ance of the original wind at some distance astern of us. The gale had 
moderated a t daylight, and the weather became fine ; but t as the sea still 
kept high, its undulations became more obvious and easily analyzed. 
At three in the afiernoon, when about a third part of the greater undu- 
lations averaged about twenty-four feet from crest to hollow, in height, 
these higher v waves could be traced right and left as they approached 
the ship t to the extent of a quarter of a mile on an average, more 0 
- Traced through their extent the ridge was an irregular slik 
backed hill, precipitous often on the leeward side. The undula- 
tions, indeed, as to primary waves, consisted mainly of thes e a 
icked masses, broken into or modified by innumerable secondary yee 
