52 Wight's Illustrations of Indian Botany. 



and esteem of scientific men. We regret to observe sub- 

 scribers are but few from this part of India, which we trust 

 has been from some oversight, as we are acquainted with 

 no books that ought to have a wider circulation in India, 

 whether we regard the subject, the manner in which it is 

 treated, or the claims of the author. 



Meteorological Observations. By Mr. J. M'Clelland. 



During the hot weather in all parts of India that we 

 have been in, subject to the influence of westerly winds, 

 there is a remarkable haze which lasts from April till the 

 rains set in about June. We have heard it ascribed to an 

 electric state of the atmosphere by some, and by others to 

 an unknown condition of the air indicative of sickness and 

 approaching famine, especially if unusually intense or long 

 continued. 



The great fault of most persons in interpreting phenomena 

 of this nature is, that they look too far for their causes. 

 Heat and dryness may be favourable circumstances for the 

 development of electric phenomena, but that the atmosphere 

 is more charged with electric fluids during the hot weather 

 than at other seasons, or that such is the cause of the haze, 

 we have as little reason for supposing as we have in ascrib- 

 ing to it any mysterious influence over either our health, or 

 the fecundity of the earth. 



It is solely attributable to the high temperature of the 

 air, and the geological structure of the tracts over which the 

 prevailing winds pass, as is proved by the earthy precipitate 

 from the atmosphere, which takes place at night, when the 

 winds subside.* 



After the first fall of rain, the peculiar effects above 

 noticed disappear, the rain is ushered in with storms of 

 thunder and wind, and the quantity that falls during the suc- 

 ceeding three months is never less than 25 inches, and often as 



* Inquiries in Kemaon, page 



