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XXIL—On the Cyclones of Tasmania and the surrounding 
Seas in July and August, 1852. By THomas Dosson, 
B.A. [Read 9th Februury, 1853.) 
Tue general nature of the gales that prevail on the South 
Coast of Australia, Bass’s Straits, and on the Coasts of Van 
Diemen’s Land was correctly described by Flinders forty 
years ago. ‘This description is the more valuable and trust- 
worthy, inasmuch as Flinders was ignorant of the modern 
theory of rotatory storms. It occurs at pp. 244-5 of 
vol. i. of the “ Voyage to Terra Australis,” published in 
1814. He says :— 
““ The progress of the gales is usually this: the barometer 
falls to 29°50, or lower; and the wind rises from the North- 
westward, with thick weather, and commonly with rain. It ~ 
veers gradually to the West, increasing in strength, and the 
weather begins to clear up so soon as it has got to the South- 
ward of that point. At South West the gale blows hardest, 
and the barometer rises, and by the time the wind gets to 
South, or §.8.E., it becomes moderate, the weather is fine, 
and the barometer aboye 30 inches. 
“ Sometimes the wind may return back to West, or some- 
thing Northward, with a fall in the mercury, and diminish 
in strength, or die away; but the gale is not over, although 
a cessation of a day or two may take place. . 
“In some cases the wind flies round suddenly from North 
West to South West, and the rainy, thick weather then con- 
tinues a longer time. 
“Such is the usual course of the gales along the South 
Coast, and in Bass’s Straits; but on the East side of the 
