234 Scientific Intelligence. 
to the full force of the northeast monsoon from the China seas, has 
a January temperature above 77°. Clearly the thermal effect even 
of the cold winter monsoon is scarcely perceptible farther south. 
I consider water = be the only direct cause of the ie ness and 
uniformity of e rial temperatures, and this in three ways— 
(1) by the great heat~eapacity of water; (2) by the alin which 
interpose a screem between the sun ete the surface seo ih 
the Atlantic, where the winds are generally w 
oa the ‘winds, I admit of their effect in this case; but (1) in 
g ocean currents, and thus removing the heated water from 
he aie (2) in spreading the cold air from over the cold cur- 
rents over a greater distance. The latter is the cause of the low 
temperature in the equatorial regions of the Eastern Atlantic and 
Eastern Pacific. 
Where the sky is clear and humidity and rains dehonh very 
high temperatures of the air are attained, reat dis 
tance from the equator (10°-30°) and this notwithstanding winds 
coming from the cooler Mediterranean, are certainly stronger than 
the trades of the ocean and yet do not prevent the desert from 
attaining a higher ai} aaa than known in any equatorial 
— —Nature, Jan 
11. Report on “Magnetic hagas in — in the 
Summer of 1879; by Francis E. Nipuer.—The magnetic sur 
vey of Missouri, comm menced in 1878, SF continued during the 
summer of 1879. Observations of the declination and inclination 
of the needle, and of the horizontal intensity, were made at a con- 
siderable number of new stations. The report ee may methods 
employed and the results of the Sard erie in map 
is added giving the isogonic lines for can eee hd 
those of the latter State bein ng ba on ge surve 
Assuming 
sonckal direction of which is from east to west, they peer 
according to well-known laws, ads in greatest quantity 
i en 
dency of the needle is to set at right angles to a current of elec 
