THE OUTLINE OF CLOUD FORMS. 
361 
hibits much of the character of electric cumulus in its lower 
parts, having also a considerable volume and rotundity of out- 
line. 
The year 1872 will be long remembered both for its excessive 
rainfall and the number and destructive violence of its thunder- 
storms. It was equally remarkable for the variety and striking 
character of its cloud forms. The electric cumulus was scarcely 
absent for a day during the whole period over which the thun- 
derstorms extended. On one occasion, when leaving Liverpool 
for Blackburn, I observed three or four conical piles of the cloud 
upon the horizon in the direction of the latter town : the 
weather was beautiful at Liverpool, but a storm, as I learnt on 
arriving at my destination, had raged there at the time I ob- 
served the cloud so many miles away. 
There can be little doubt that this phenomenon may often be 
seen at a distance of 50 to 150 miles from the point where the 
storm breaks. 
Another remarkable form that appeared during the summer 
of 1872 was the “ Festooned,” or Pocky cloud, as some have 
termed it. Professor Poey a year or two ago, alluded to it as a 
‘‘ new ” variety. Since then, however, it has been shown to be 
of ancient date, and a somewhat elaborate and interesting ac- 
count of earlier observations was contributed by Mr. Scott to 
the ‘‘ Quarterly Journal of the Meteorological Society,” April 
1872. I have myself observed the cloud on several occasions, 
though only once or twice in perfect form. The illustration 
given by Mr. Scott in his paper was furnished by Dr. Clouston. 
The droplets or festoons which form the lower outline of the 
cloud have a semi-elliptical or egg-shaped form, were very dark, 
and extended over a considerable portion of the heavens. In 
the most perfect example noted by me (about twelve years ago) 
the pendulous processes or droplets had an almost perfectly cir- 
cular outline, even, and well defined. The festoons were about 
4° or 5° in apparent diameter, their altitude being about a mile. 
The whole mass from which the droplets depended was not large, 
and moved with the wind ; the curves meanwhile retaining their 
form intact. What made the case most singular was, that the 
regularity of the outline could be maintained, even a few 
moments, under the variable atmospheric conditions of the time. 
Though the outlines were so regular, the surface of the cloud 
had a very nimbus-like appearance, and was of a lurid yellow 
tint. The sky was not overcast at the time. 
The more usual concomitants of this form are, however, a 
dark turbid sky and a “ pallium ” of cirro-cumulus subsiding 
into nimbus or nimbo-stratus. Under these conditions I ob- 
served it twice during the stormy summer of last year, one of 
the cases being immediately after a thunderstorm. The fact of 
