

Bibliography. ] 47 



teen in number, are published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, 

 volumes viii to xiv, and if collected together would make a volume of 

 650 pages, with 30 plates and diagrams. 



The simplicity of his explanations and instructions, no less than the 

 thoroughness of his work, evince the author's learning, acumen, and 

 good judgment. We may dissent from one or two of his deductions, 

 but these points, if incorrect, do not affect the practical value or inter- 

 est of the work. 



Mr. Piddington calls a great rotary storm or hurricane a Cyclone, 

 a word derived from the Greek xvxlo;, circle. After devoting twenty 

 pages to an historical account of this branch of meterology, and a no- 

 tice of different theories, he passes to Part II, in which he enters upon 

 the descriptive and explanatory part of the subject. Considering the 

 general principle well established, that the gales of the two hemis- 

 pheres revolve in opposite directions, those of the southern with the 

 hands of a watch, and those of the northern the reverse, "he points 

 out the several well ascertained tracks of gales over the globe, referring 

 largely to facts and authorities, describes the general characters of 

 storms in the different regions, and mentions the average rates and 

 sizes of hurricanes in the various seas, and the peculiarities they present. 

 We have not space to give an abstract of the work ; neither is it neces- 

 sary, as the volume may be had by all who desire to study the subject. 

 Part III, occupying pages 64 to 125, contains practical directions for 

 avoiding storms and turning them to account. 



Part IV, pp. 126 to 176, treats of previous phenomena attending 

 storms ; the storm wave and storm current ; passage of the centre of 

 storms; electrical or magnetic effects; arched squalls and tornados. 

 Part V, (the concluding 1 16 pages,) explains the value and uses of the 

 barometer and sympiesometer, and the changes they indicate during 

 gales : it treats also of the height of storms ; signs of their approach ; 

 water spouts ; formation and breaking up of hurricanes ; besides other 

 topics of interest. 



The mode of using the storm cards will be gathered from Mr. Red- 

 field's figures in this Journal, p. 333, vol. ii, 1846 ; for the circles mark- 

 ed on the cards are similar to the figures here referred to. They are, in 

 fact, plans of hurricanes. Being made of transparent horn — for which 

 idea we are indebted to Mr. Piddington — they are extremely convenient 

 *n use. If a vessel, for example, near the Bermudas, feels an approach- 

 ing hurricane, and has the wind blowing southeast, the horn-card is laid 

 °n the chart, placing any point in that radius which corresponds to wind 

 &E. over the point marked (or the position of the vessel. This beincf 



done, it is at once observed that the body of the cyclone is in this case off 

 to the southwest ; farther, that by running west, the vessel will be dri- 

 ving into the fiercest of the gale; by going north, she will also en- 

 counter its violence and prolong its continuance; by going southeast, 

 she will dodge it entirely, or feel only its exterior winds. It is a fact 

 Previously known for these seas, that the gales have a course to the 

 northward or northward and eastward. In the same manner, the cards 

 m ay be used for other regions. Mr. Piddington's illustrations leave 

 nothing to be desired in the way of fullness and simplicity. 



We leave the work, again commending it strongly to all who own 

 vessels on the ocean, as well as to those who command them, urging 





