ON SUNSPOTS AND TEERESTKIAL PHENOMENA. 



459 



Poey has investigated in a similar manner the cyclones in the West 

 Indies, and his results are favourable to Meldrum's conclusion. 



We also possess a large number of reductions of strength and direction 

 of wind on land. These, on the whole, seem to show that intensity is 

 stronger at times of maxima suuspots, but the connection is by no means 

 certain. 



Rainfall. 



The investigations of the amount of rainfall are very numerous. They 

 have generally but not uniformly led to the result that the fall is greater 

 in years of many spots, but the reductions are often subject to the 

 criticisms which we have discussed, and I must therefore refer those who- 

 take an interest in the subject to the original papers. 



Hail. 



It is remarkable that the hailfall statistics have led to a much more- 

 decided result than the investigations on rainfall. We owe to Fritz some 

 extensive investigations on the subject ; instead of giving his tables, it 

 will be better to plot down his results so as to obtain curves of hail- 

 stone frequency. Curve 1 (Plate III.) gives the sunspot curve ; curves 2, 3, 

 and 4 give that of hailstone frequency. In curve 2, five yearly means 

 of observations taken at Milan, Udine, Vienna, and Prague are combined. 

 Curve 3 represents similar means of observations taken at Stuttgart, 

 Bremen, Basle. In curve 4 the observations of Cuba, Stuttgart, 

 Bremen, Chiswick and London, Boston, Providence, are taken into 

 account. A few series of observations which we possess from last century 

 are decidedly favourable to the same conclusion. The connection between 

 sunspots and hailfall is fairly well established. 



Clouds. 



Humboldt supposed that there exists a curious connection between 

 the aurora borealis and the clouds which are known under the name of 

 cirrus or cirro-stratus. Though Humboldt's view has not been proved, 

 there is yet a greal deal to be said in its support. It becomes interesting, 



