Notes on the Storms of High South Latitudes. 141 



gradually round to the westward. Heavy gales are occa- 

 sionally experienced from the eastward of S., and when 

 they come are generally lasting, and the weather takes some 

 time to clear up. One thing especially tends to show the 

 prevalence of westerly winds, which are the prevailing 

 winds in the rear of these disturbances, is the constant, 

 steady swell from that quarter, which can, with a few rare 

 exceptions, be always traced. It is very noticeable before 

 the cyclonic disturbances set in, and when the wind gets 

 round to the quarter from which it is coming, it soon 

 mounts up into the tremendous, regular seas, only to be seen 

 in these parts of the globe. The temperature of the water 

 does not seem at all affected by the shifting of the wind, 

 though the air generally is to the extent of several degrees. 



3. The movement of the upper clouds in these storms 

 seem to be much more regular than they are in the northern 

 hemisphere. Observations on their movements as observed 

 from a ship are very difficult, on account of the double 

 motion of rolling and going ahead, and especially when there 

 are other clouds beneath, which then makes it appear as if 

 the upper were in movement. I have frequently found old 

 sailors even giving a point from which they are coming almost 

 opposite to their real one. I shall now again take the case 

 of a storm passing over an observer. It will be found that 

 cirri first appear on and parallel to north-western horizon, 

 and will apparently be moving from that point ; but it will 

 soon be seen that their movement is almost from a point at 

 right angles to this, but they will appear to be spread over 

 the sky from N. W., and the motion would probably be noted 

 in nine cases out of ten that they were coming from 

 N.W. But it will be found when they arrive overhead that 

 they are moving from S.W., but are still being propagated 

 from the north-westward; they thus have a twofold motion. 

 These lines are often very perfectly formed, and all appear to 

 meet at two points — S.W. and N.E. There will also be a 

 slight short stratification across the lines at a large angle. 



The more gradual the forming and propagation over of 

 the upper cloud, together with its perfect form, as above 

 described, the more severe and lasting the storm ; but it 

 must be understood that there are storms which are not 

 forecasted in this perfect way. As the storm approaches 

 the cirrus becomes denser and lower, till the sky is covered 

 with a uniform layer, without any stratification ; and, if the 

 motions can be made out, they will still be found to come 



