Zs E. Loomis— Observations of the U. S. Signal Service. 
the entire range of the barometer for these twelve months was 
0-42 inch, and six or seven of the barometric oscillations at this 
station can probably be identified with oscillations at some o 
the other stations. 
Besides the areas of low barometer enumerated in the table 
on page 2, there are but few others during this period which 
can be traced with confidence from one station to another. In 
1876, the number of stations of observation in the tropical 
regions was small, and the storm of Sept. 15-18 is the only one 
which can be satisfactorily traced from these observations. 
In 1877, the center of storm No. 8 passed at a considerable 
distance from all of the reporting stations, and is only obscurely 
indicated by the published observations. On the 26th o 
August, a small but well-marked barometric depression occur- 
red almost simultaneously at all of the stations from Fort de 
France to Havana. On the 17th and L8th of October, there 
was a noticeable fall of the barometer, which apparently ad- 
vanced from San Juan de Porto Rico to Havana. 
In 1878, from Sept. 15th'to 16th, a small barometric depres- 
sion traveled from Bridgetown to Santiago de Cuba. From 
the 2d to the 3d of October, a small barometric depression trav- 
eled from Fort de France to Nassau. On the 21st of October, 
there was a decided barometric depression at Vera Cruz and 
Havana, which advanced northerly along the coast of the Uni- 
ted States, and was marke great violence. 
In 1879, from the 16th to the 18th of August, a small baro- 
metric depression traveled from Bridgetown to San Juan de 
Porto Rico. This was perhaps a continuation of No. 18, of 
the table on page 2, and if so, it shows that this storm veered 
a little to the north of west, like most of the storms of this 
region. On the 28th of August, a small barometric depression 
appeared almost simultaneously at all the stations from Navassa 
to Tlacotalpam, on the coast of Mexico. This depression appa- 
rently advanced northward, but the published observations are 
not sufficient to enable us to trace its course satisfactorily. 
This examination has disclosed a few barometric depressions 
in addition to those enumerated in the table on page 2, but 
their courses were generally towards the north of west. We 
therefore seem authorized to conclude that nearly all the areas 
of low barometer which occur within the tropics and advance 
westward, in the neighborhood of the West India Islands, in- 
stead of following the ordinary course of the Trade Winds, 
advance in a direction somewhat north of west. 
American storms advancing in a Southeasterly direction. 
During the colder months of the year, storms while crossing 
the United States frequently advance, during a portion of their 
