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CORRESPONDENCE. 
WEATHER-INDICATIONS. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Journal of Science. 
Sir, — Have any of your meteorological correspondents noticed 
a faCt with which I have often been struck, — that is, that in a 
season of confirmed character the ordinary weather-indications 
become of no value ? Thus in 1868 I often observed that low- 
ering clouds, a red sunrise, the low flight of swallows, eddies of 
dust, &c., were not followed by rain. Conversely in the present 
season, a rising barometer, red sunsets, very lofty flights of 
swallows, and other indications of fair weather, are succeeded 
by rain. — I am, &c., 
Cloud-gazer. 
ANTI-VIVISECTIONIST INCONSISTENCY. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Journal of Science . 
Sir, — In a recent magazine article a distinguished writer, after 
describing with great zest a day’s trout-fishing which he enjoyed 
at Cheneys, enters upon the defence of “sport” in general, 
which he defines as killing for the sake of killing. He ventures 
on the unwarrantable statement that save “ the dogs and the 
cats which have learnt from him,” man is the only animal which 
indulges in such gratuitous slaughter. Waiving, however, any 
present discussion on this point, I cannot help remarking that 
to indulge in and to justify “ sport ” come with a very bad grace 
from one who, like the writer in question, is an avowed opponent 
of vivisection. 
If the common infliction of pain and death upon animals for 
mere amusement, or for the exercise and display of skill, is to be 
tolerated without rebuke either from law or from public opinion, 
how can a much rarer infliction of pain for a high and important 
purpose be branded as a horrible crime ? — I am, &c., 
J. W. Slater. 
