182 Miscellanies. 



The characters of the orders, tribes and genera, are well defined; 

 and the specific descriptions, though abridged, are sufficiently fiiU to be 

 clear and satisfactory. They are, moreover, frequently accompanied with 

 notes and detailed remarks, (especially the less known, or newly discov- 

 ered species,) which seem to supply all the information that can reason- 

 ably be desired, in the Flora of so extensive a region. 



The additions derived from the recent discoveries of Mr. Nuttall, 

 during his journey to the western coast of this continent, are highly im- 

 portant ; and are here published, for the fiirst time, from the original 

 manuscript, furnished by that distinguished and indefatigable naturalist. 



It appears, by a notice affixed to the number just published, that the 

 work will be issued in nine parts, three parts to make a volume, and the 

 whole forming three closely printed octavos, of about 550 pages each. 

 The succeeding numbers will appear with as much dispatch as is con- 

 sistent with their faithful execution. 



Such being the character and plan of the forthcoming Flora of North 

 .4men"ca!, we conclude our brief and hasty notice with a reiterated ex- 

 pression of the hope, that the worthy and accomplished authors may be 

 adequately encouraged to persevere in their most laudable undertaking, 

 and thereby be enabled to bring it to a successful and speedy completion. 



August 16, 1838. - W. D. - 



8. Redfield's Laio of 'Storms : — Notice of Col. Reid's Wm^Jc on Hur- 

 ricanes. — It is well known to the readers of this Journal, that our valued 

 friend and correspondent, Mr. William C. Redfield, now of New York, 

 has for a long course of years zealously prosecuted the study of various 

 topics of Meteorology, and especially that of the phenomena of the storms 

 of the Atlantic coast. To the latter subject his attention w^s directed as 

 early as 1821, by the memorable hurricane which passed over our State 

 with destructive violence, in September of that year.. An investigation of 

 its phases at different places, brought him to the highly interesting con- 

 clusion, that this storm was a progressive whirlwind, whose path could be 

 traced from the West Indies to the Province of New Brunswick. In 

 order to determine if the other storms were of this character, Mr. R. pur- 

 sued the very judicious method of " mapping out on a chart, all the facts 

 in relation to the storm, which he could collect, in their true time and 

 location," (see this Journal for July, 1835,) and his labors were reward- 

 ed with the very important discovery, that the violent storms of the North- 

 ern hemisphere are whirlwinds on a grand scale, each revolving or gyrating 

 from right to left, originating within the tropics, advancing Westerly at 

 first, in a line curving to the North, turning near the latitude of 30° N. 

 and thence pursuing a Northeasterly course. This view of the matter, 

 although often advanced previously by Mr. R. among his acquaintances, 

 (as many of us can testify,) was not made public until 1831, when it ap- 



