On the Clouds. 
389 
frequently discern clouds of different altitudes moving towards 
^arious points, owing to eddies or currents in the atmosphere 
having different directions, just as we see the same effect produced 
in a lake or pool of water. The height of the clouds is an in- 
teresting subject of curiosity, and an opportunity is not often pre- 
sented to meteorologists of obtaining by observation a knowledge of 
this subject. I subjoin a table containing the results of five years 
observations. The observations were made by Mr. Crosthwaite, 
of Cumberland, (England,) by ascertaining the heights of certain 
points upon the mountain Skiddaw, above Derwent Lake, and 
noting the approach of clouds to those points, he was enabled to 
construct the table referred to: 
* 
- 
ll 
5 
O J=' 
— to 
§1 
o 
n 
"To 
=3 ~ 
s i 
o 
o 
o -■ 
= — 
-.If 
o 
o 
B-= 
o — 
3 
__ io 
3 — 
ID -n 
it 
37 
45 
32 
37 
22 
2;) 
35 
35 
32 
31 
42 
39 
416 
o 
p 
if 
S ^ 
32 
27 
30 
26 
25 
21 
25 
26 
30 
31 
38 
50 
367 
o 
C3 
O ■-" 
o — 
e| 
30 
43 
24 
23 
30 
34 
35 
25 
27 
46 
46 
47 
410 
o 
S ^ 
39 
38 
32 
S< 
34 
41 
48 
45 
51 
61 
45 
46 
518 
o 
2^ 
o.tf 
o ~ 
36 
29 
44 
35 
27 
34 
38 
30 
27 
37 
47 
Jl 
419 
1 
o 
lO 
o 
If 
<~ 
116 
94 
184 
206 
270 
233 
191 
215 
186 
164 
128 
HI 
2098 
1 
o 
o 
2: 

5 
2 





(1 
2 

1 
9 
lU 
1 
4 
1 
2 
4 
1 


s 
12 
5 
6 
5 
4 
2 
2 
5 
7 
5 
3 
G 
2S 
15 
11 
18 
8 
6 
IS 
n 
13 
13 
13 
23 
53 
41 
22 
21 
13 
24 
35 
27 
38 
26 
30 
41 
30 
45 
40 
34 
31 
24 
3(5 
39 
38 
49 
58 
53 
417 
384 
March, 
April, 
420 
435 
44<> 
435 
July 
449 
450 
435 
Octobf r, 
449 
435 
450 
Total 
10 
49 
f>fl 
179 
374 
48(> 
5208 
The same observer remarked, that in very heavy and continued 
rains, the clouds were mostly below the summit of the mountain, 
whose altitude is 1050 yards or 3510 fee% but that it frequently 
rained when they were entirely above it. 
Observations of a similar nature made in this country where 
an opportunity presents itself, would prove an interesting subject 
of comparison. 
We have all felt the grateful influence of an overshadowing 
cloud upon a warm summer's day, and yet we are so constituted, 
that a similar interruption of the sun's rays at a different season 
would have an opposite tendency. I was very much interested in 
a phenomenon I observed while passing in the early part of last 
August, over the elevated tract of country between the head of 
lake Seneca and the Chemung river. This ridge is about 18 
miles across, and forms the water shed between some of the tributa- 
ries of the Chemung and of the lake. It was a fine day for the 
season, and clouds of a small oval form were floating in the 
atmosphere at a distance from each other; there was a remarkable 
