322 Proceedings of the British Association. 



the Association, and under the able superintendence of Mr. Snow 

 Harris, and with those made at Padua, Philadelpliia and in Cey- 

 lon, we perceive very distinct traces of meteorological laws, of 

 which no idea had been previously formed ; and I have no hesi- 

 tation in stating that when observations of this class are multi- 

 plied and extended, they will lead to general results of as great 

 importance in predetermining atmospherical changes, as those 

 which have enabled the astronomer to predict the phenomena of 

 the planetary system. * * In comparing the number of hours 

 of calm throughout the year, it appears that they occurred when 

 the temperature was lowest, and upon laying them down in a 

 curve, this curve was almost exactly the reverse of that of the 

 mean daily temperature of the year ; that is, the wind, or com- 

 motion in the atmosphere, depends on and varies v.'ith the tem- 

 perature. This very important and new result is confirmed in a 

 remarkable manner by the observations of Mr. Osier at Birming- 

 ham ; observations of inestimable value, which were made at 

 the request and expense of the British Association, and exhibit 

 more important results respecting the phenomena and laws of 

 wind than any which have been obtained since meteorology be- 

 came one of the physical sciences. 



Cotnparative force of the wind during the twenty four hours. 

 Mr. Follett Osier brought forward a paper in which he gave the 

 results of his investigations respecting the direction and force of 

 the wind^ deduced from the mean of 26,000 hourly observations, 

 taken by the anemometer at the Philosophical Institution at Bir- 

 mingham, during 1837, 8 and 9. In tabulating these observa- 

 tions, the curve obtained is found to be almost identical with 

 that of the thermometer; not only for the whole year, but for 

 each season. The increase in the temperature, however, precedes 

 the rise of the wind by a short interval, until it has attained its 

 maximum force ; but as evening approaches, the wind declines 

 more rapidly than the temperature. 



Mr. Caldecott made a communication respecting an Hourly reg- 

 ister of Meteorological observations kept at Trevandrum^ com- 

 menced June 1, 1837, and to be continued to June 1, 1842. The 

 observatory was erected by the Rajah of Travancore, in lat. 8° 

 30' 35^' N. ; Ion. 5h. 8m. E. of Greenwich ; 170 feet above the 

 level of the sea, and distant from it in a direct line, about two 

 miles. Every precaution appears to have been taken to insure 



