On the Rotary Action of Storms. 65 
radicals, oxyphosphionides of hydrogen, PO®*+H, PO’+-2H, 
PO*+3H. 
Al. 'To me the formation of three compound elements, by the 
reiterated addition of an atom, of which five of the same kind 
were previously in the mass to which the addition is made, seems 
more anomalous, mysterious, and improbable, than the existence 
of three compounds of phosphoric acid with water, in which the 
presence of the different proportions of water is the consequence 
of some change in the constitution of the elements, which is re- 
ferred to isomerism. 
A2. No reason can be given why the addition of one, two, and 
three atoms of oxygen, to the “radical,” should convey a power 
to hold a proportional number of atoms of hydrogen. Such an 
acquisition of power is an anomaly. 
43. In the case of radicals formed with hydrogen i in different 
proportions, as in acetyl and ethyl, formyl and methyl, the num- 
ber of atoms of oxygen in the peroxides, is the inverse of the 
hydrogen in the radical. 
44. Ethyl, C+, H*, unites, at most, with one atom of oxygen, 
while acetyle, C+, H?, takes three atoms to form acetic acid, C4, 
H?,O?. Methyl, C?, H3, forms, in like manner, only a protox- 
ide, while formyl, C*, H, takes three atoms to constitute formic 
acid. 
45. Besides the three oxyphosphions, of which the formulas 
are above stated, there would have to be another in the phos- 
phites ; so that instead of the hydrated acid, or phosphite of wa- 
ter, being PO?+HO0, it would have to be PO‘+-H, a fourth 
oxyphosphionide of hydrogen. 
(To be concluded.) 
Art. VII.—On the Rotary Action of Storms; by Cuaries Tracy. 
(Read before the Utica Natural History Society.) 
THE investigations of Mr. Redfield and Col. Reid have accu- 
mulated a vast amount of evidence in favor of the propositions 
they maintain. ‘The tendency of this evidence is to demonstrate, 
that in the large storms which affect extensive districts, and also 
in the violent tornadoes which devastate a brief path, there 
are two motions, the rotary and the progressive; and that the 
Vol. xiv, No. 1.—April-June, 1843, 9 
