AT4 
figuration of shores. Our paleozoic ocean was too 
broad to hurry its currents by crowding them. ‘There 
is no probability that differences of ocean tempera- 
ture in the past have been great enough seriously to 
increase the currents; and the little that is known 
of past aerial temperatures is not enough to insure 
steeper barometric gradients for stronger winds. As 
to the velocity of the winds being proportional to the 
rotation or size of their planet, I must venture to 
differ from Mr. Darwin (Nature, xxv. 1882, 213): for 
barometric gradients would be steeper on a small 
planet than on a large one; and the deflecting force, 
coming from the planet’s rotation, depends, not on 
its size, but on its angular velocity... Moreover, this 
force does not significantly affect the wind’s velocity, 
but only its direction; and if the earth turned faster, 
as it may have formerly, the course of the trade 
winds would be flattened (made more oblique to the 
meridians), but their velocity would not be materially 
changed, as has been shown by Ferrel. It does not, 
therefore, seem safe to count on stronger ocean-cur- 
rents in the past, until it can be shown that the dif- 
ference between polar and equatorial temperatures 
was formerly greater than it now is. 
But with tides the case is different. There has 
been found a mechanism by which the tides have de- 
creased automatically from a former greater strength, 
and I fee] that. such a contribution to former greater 
activity in the ocean is to be welcomed in physical 
geology. It is not a question of six hundred foot 
tides, by whose devastating strength Mr. Ball has 
weakened his argument, but of paleozoic marine 
transportation along the open shores of the ocean, of 
greater force than is now found; and to this end the 
old tides promise effective aid. W. M. DAVIs. 
Cambridge, April 8. 
Transmission of long or inaudible sound- 
waves. 
A simple method of testing whether the atmos- 
pheric wave (which, it is claimed, passed around the 
earth in less than thirty-six hours) had its origin at, 
and was due to an explosion of, the volcano Krakatoa, 
would be to examine the previous records of the self- 
recording instruments for those particular times at 
which the waves caused by the explosions of some 
of the larger powder-mines would reach a given 
locality. 
That explosions of this kind cause disturbances 
which are made manifest (without the aid of any 
delicate instruments) at localities many miles from 
the place of disaster is a well-known fact. Ds 
Tornado in western North Carolina. 
On Tuesday, March 25, about five p.M., a tornado 
passed through portions of Catawba and Iredell coun- 
ties, extending in a due east course for twenty-five 
miles. 
The first evidence of a destructive storm is two 
miles and three-fourths west of the town of Newton, 
the highest point of land east of Baker’s Ridge, which 
is twelve miles to the west. The fallen trees showed 
two distinct currents of wind,—the one from a few 
degrees north of west, the other south-west. No 
evidence of a rotary motion was observed until with- 
in three-fourths of a mile of Newton, which, however, 
was only in a limited area. In the town, and east of 
it, the rotary motion was decided and destructive. 
A very extended and severe hail-storm extended 
all along the track of the tornado on the north or left 
side, slowly moving south, reaching the path of the 
storm. The day had been unusually warm; wind 
south, shifting to south-west. Several persons wit- 
rine J 
SCIENCE, 
nessed the meeting of the. rapidly moving. clouds 
from the south- west with the hail-cloud; also the 
formation of the descending. tornado- cloud. Before 
it reached the earth, portions became detached, and 
descended to the earth, afterwards united, and moved 
forward unbroken. While passing through Newton, 
the form of the cloud was that of an hourglass, the 
lower end considerably retarded, the middle portion 
waving. Immediately east of the town there is a 
valley; and, when the cloud passed over it, it became 
erect and funnel-shaped. The surface of the country 
over which the storm passed is quite diversified. 
Valleys nearly in the direction of the storm’s path 
were able to deflect its course slightly. The highest 
points showed evidence of greatest force, though 
frequently the trees were felled in the lowest parts of 
the valleys. 
The after-wind was but slight. Several houses 
were lifted from the lower floor and carried away, 
leaving the occupants unhurt, and not blown Se 
by an after-wind. 
The Jeft side of the track is quite sharply defined, 
while the right extends to a much greater distance, 
and gr adually all trace disappears. The width of the 
path is from five hundred yards to a mile, though 
the more destructive part is from a hundred’ and 
fifty to five hundred yards. 
The damage to houses, barns, timber, and fencing, 
was very creat: nothing being able to withstand the 
force of the storm except the small trees. 
J. W. GORE. 
University of North Carolina, 
April 8. 
Osteology of the cormorant. 
If Dr. Gill had read the literature on the cormorant 
before writing to Science, he would have learned that 
I was following Selenka, and that my reference was 
all-sufficient for the purpose; namely, a reference to a 
previous figure. Dr. Gill might as easily have referred 
the committee to the other references found in Carus 
and Engelmann’s Bibliotheca zoologica. ‘Those inter- 
ested in the subject will find my last remarks on i 
point in dispute in the Auk for April. 
J AMORY JEFFRIES. 
The remarks of Dr. Gill, which are contained in his 
letter to Science, No. 61, have just been read by me: 
As one of the persons designated by your correspond- 
ent, permit me to thank him for the information he 
has so timely tendered. 
A certain amount of reprehension always. attaches 
to a laborer in any field of science if he is found not 
to be thoroughly acquainted with the literature of his 
subject. This censure is well deserved, particularly 
if no good excuse exists for such ignorance. ‘The 
language used by Dr. Gill in his letter seems to bear 
with it this charge; and, in simple justice to myself, 
I feel that a few words are demanded from me in an- 
swer toit. In my first paper upon the ‘ Osteology of 
the cormorant’ (ii. 640), ldistinctly said that the occipi- 
tal style is alluded to by Professor Owen, in his ‘ Anat- 
omy of vertebrates.’ That was equivalent to stating 
the fact that it was universally known to anatomists. © 
The libraries were not available at the time that that 
article was penned, and I candidly stated in it my ig- — 
norance of any figures of the bone in question. 
At the time my second notice of this bone was 7 
written, the views of other scientific men and the 
libraries were available; and in a few lines I simply 
refuted Mr. Jeffries’ notion that it was an ossified ten- — 
Nothing further than this was called ; 
don (ii. 822). 
[Vou. IIL, No. 63. 
a 
