Travels of a Naturalist in the Alps. 303 
The volume contains a description of an interesting meteorological 
phenomenon, called atmospheric cannonade, (wetterschiessen). It 
was witnessed near the foot of the Jungfrau, but is common through- 
out the Bernese Alps. It resembles a distant cannonade. ‘The oc- 
currence is most frequent about the time of mid-summer, though it 
occasionally happens in autumn. It has no connexion with ordinary 
thunder storms. The sky from perfect clearness becomes slightly 
hazy in a manner indescribably peculiar as the sounds commence. 
It was observed on one occasion by the author in the middle of Au- 
gust. The forenoon was sultry, butclear. At about six, P. M. the 
atmosphere assumed a peculiar haziness which led the inhabitants to 
predict rain. The wind was northwest, not from the Alps, but tow- 
ards them from the valley. The barometer was much agitated, and 
the hygrometer, high. ‘The sound was at first repeated two or three 
times each minute, afterwards at longer intervals. It was a quarter 
past eleven before it wholly ceased. 
The weather was cloudy in the morning, rain soon followed. Sev- 
eral singular superstitions concerning it prevail among the common 
people; some attributing it to the firing of the old feudal lords of 
Rotthal, others to that of the Burgundians on the field of Murat, 
while the more intelligent refer it to the firing of cannon at Berne, 
Soleure, or Neuenbure. 
A section is devoted to the glaciers and the distribution of snow 
into the annual melting snow, and the firn. The latter is a granu- 
lar deposit upon the highest mountains and valleys, and forms the 
ice-sea, or rather the firn-sea. The glaciers issue from the jirn and 
descend through valleys and ravines or along the slopes of the 
mountains. ‘The red snow, found only in the lower part of the firn 
is a lichen, the Palmella nivalis. It is never found in the annual 
snow, or upon the glaciers, but invariably in the firn, on sunny slopes 
where it particularly flourishes. 
The work is not confined to geology and meteorology, but includes 
valuable notices in botany derived from the author’s friend Jacos 
Rots of Soleure. Entertaining sketches respecting the manners of 
the mountain population, their herds, and pasture-lands are also in- 
troduced. ‘The style throughout the work is animated and pleasing, 
occasionally becoming poetical in the description of Alpine scenery. 
ee ae 
