1876.] Report of the Meteorological Committee. 193 



seaman's observation, such as the weather, the wind, the motion 

 of the clouds in relation to the lower wind, the direction of the 

 swell, the colour and luminosity of the sea, and the current 

 rips; as well as information relating to the birds, fish, and 

 insects that are met with, and the variation from month to 

 month of the localities in which they are seen, and also appear- 

 ances of submarine volcanic action in certain localities. 

 By these investigations it is believed that important light has been 

 thrown on several subjects of general as well as of special interest. 



1. As to the tendency of the wind blowing along a coast-line to draw 



round a cape. 



2. As to the relation of the surface-temperature and the currents of 



the sea near the equator to the westerly gales of high northern 

 and southern latitudes in their respective winters ; as to the 

 dipping of a cold current under a warm' one, and the variation 

 with the seasons in the amount of easterly current near the 

 equator. 



3. As to a probable relation between the well-known rollers of Ascen- 



sion and St. Helena and the winter gales of the North Atlantic, 

 and a corresponding relation of the rollers on the west coast of 

 Africa to the winter gales of high southern latitudes. 



4. As to the remarkable difference in direction of the wind in Decem- 



ber on opposite sides of the Cape-Verde Islands, being easterly to 

 the westward and north-north-east to the eastward of them. 



5. As to the remarkable unsteadiness and gustiness of the north-east 



trade with a clear sky in Square 40 (lat. 10°-20° N., long. 

 30°_40° "W".), in certain months. 



6. As to the difference between the wind and weather of Square 303 



(lat. 0°-10° S., long. 30°-40° W.), off Cape St. Eoque and its 

 neighbourhood, and those of the Squares lying to the eastward 

 of that point, more especially in regard of the fact that in certain 

 months the wind in Square 303, during the squalls which fre- 

 quently occur, constantly changes between south-east and south- 

 south-west in such a way that the seaman finds very great 

 difficulty in working to the southward if he approaches too near 

 the Brazilian coast. 



7. As to the relation of the upper currents of the atmosphere (indi- 



cated by cloud motion) to the lower winds— e.g., how the equa- 

 torial margin of one Trade appears to rise above the edge of the 

 other Trade, how the upper clouds move from the north-east over 

 the south-west monsoon on the coast of Africa, and how some- 

 times clouds move from the south-east, the sky looking very 

 heavy towards that quarter, while the surface wind is steady from 

 south-west. 



8. As to the relation between heavy dew and sea-temperature in some 



p2 



