of the Australian Alps. 125 



The movements of circo-filum* in advance of cyclonic dis- 

 turbances, could be observed with greater clearness from the 

 Alpine stations free from the influence of smoke and other 

 obstructions incidental to large cities in the lowlands. The 

 causes which predominate in the deflection of extensive 

 aerial currents, and the consequent condensation and pre- 

 cipitation of rain, snow, &c, over the Alps — whether such 

 be due to ascensional movements of moisture-laden air;")* to 

 other thermal influence ; or to the complex actions arising 

 from the irregular barometric depressions and anti-cyclones 

 which are constantly moving over the earth's surface in the 

 temperate zones; J the protrusions of areas of high and low 

 pressures, &c.,§ or other causes of like nature — would doubt- 

 less be more satisfactorily determined by establishing a 

 chain of high-level observatories from the Western Australian 

 ranges, across South Australia and the summits of the 

 Australian Alps, to the Blue Mountains in New South 

 Wales, and which might be expected to furnish data of 

 sufficient scientific importance to enable our able Australian 

 astronomers to establish some valuable weather laws, or, in 

 addition to determining more fully the laws of meteorology 

 prevailing over our Australian continent, enable them to 

 reduce the already formulated theories of Europe and 

 America to general laws, and, to quote the immortal Von 

 Humboldt, " by a combination of thought and observation 

 discern the constancy of phenomena in the midst of apparent 

 change." The following statistics, relative to weather 

 observations at Onieo, with notes on the higher regions 

 surrounding this centre, are now given: — 



* Kev. Clement Lay, Q. J. of Met. Soc, Vol. IX., 1833. 



f Eainfall of Cherrapunji, Q. J. of M. S., Vol. VII., 1882. 



% Scott's Meteorology, p. 332. 



§ President's Address, Vol. XVIII.. p. 21, 1881, Trans. Eo. Soc. Vict. 



