490 REPORT—1 862. 
tion. No observations of the direction of the wind were made during this 
ascent, as the air was almost calm. 
August 21. 
The direction of the wind before starting was-S.W. No observations of 
the direction of the wind were made during this ascent. 
September 1. 
The direction of the wind before starting was E.N.E., verging to E. 
At 5° 4™ p.m., at 3268 feet, the direction of the wind was E.N.E. 
At 5" 10™ p.m., at 3318 feet, the direction of the wind was E. 
- At 5" 11™ 308 p.m., at 3560 feet, the direction of the wind was E.S.E. 
At 5° 17™ p.m., at 3580 feet, the direction of the wind was E.N.E. 
At 5" 36™ p.m., at 4190 feet, upper current W. 
September 5. 
The direction of the wind before starting was N. 
At 2" 16™ 108 p.m., at 11,150 feet, the direction of the wind was E. 
September 8. 
The direction of the wind before starting was S.W. No observations of 
the direction of the wind could be taken during this ascent. 
On THE PrRopacation or Sounp. 
On July 17, when at the height of 11,800 feet above the earth a band was 
heard playing. 
On July 30, at 5450 feet a gun was heard with a sharp sound, then a 
drum beating, and then a band was heard. 
On August 18, at 4500 feet the shouting of people was heard. 
- at 18,000 feet a clap of thunder was heard. 
es at 20,000 feet thunder again heard, below us. 
* at 20,000 feet a loud clap of thunder was heard. 
On August 20, at 4000 feet heard the shouts of people. 
3 at 4300 feet railway whistle heard. 
x at 3500 feet heard bell tolling. 
5 at 2200 feet heard people shouting. 
3 at 3700 feet heard a clock strike. 
On August 21, at 4900 feet a railway-train was heard. 
39 at 8200 feet a gun was heard. 
x at 3500 feet heard people shouting. 
On September 5, at 6730 feet, ascending, the report of a gun was heard. 
9 at 10,070 feet, descending, the report of a gun was heard. 
On September 8, at 3300 feet heard the shouts of people. 
From these results we learn that different notes and sounds pass more 
readily through the air than others. A dog barking has been heard at the 
height of two miles ; a multitude of people shouting, not more than 4500 feet. 
On August 18 we heard at three different times what, in my Notes to the 
Observations, I have called claps of thunder; but I also remarked at these 
times that a careful examination of the clouds below us failed to discover any 
thunder-cloud. On inquiry afterwards as to the fact of thunder being heard 
on the earth, we found none had been, and it was suggested that the sounds © 
