as shown in the figures below. The cone is three feet high, and three feet wide at the base, and appears as a triangle when hoisted. The drum (or cylinder) is of the same dimensions, and appears a square when hoisted.

The cone with its point upwards means that strong winds are probable, at first from the northward-from north-west round by north to south-east.

The cone with its point downwards means that strong winds are probable, at first from the southward-from southeast round by south to north-west.

The drum is hoisted with the cone whenever an unusually heavy gale, either southerly or northerly, as the case may be, is probable. The drum is not used without the cone.

It must be remembered that a southerly wind is much more likely to veer suddenly to a point north of west, than a northerly wind is to veer to a point south of east. Accordingly, when the south cone is hoisted, and the anchorage or harbour is exposed to the north-west, it is advisable to make preparations for a north-west gale.

The signal is kept flying until dusk and then lowered, and hoisted again next morning; and so on until the end of forty-eight hours from the time the message has been issued

from London (which is always marked on the telegram), unless orders are received previously to lower the signal.

At dusk, whenever a signal ought to be flying if it were daylight, a night signal may be hoisted in place of the cone, consisting of three lanterns hung on a triangular frame, point upwards or downwards, as the case may be. The lanterns are kept burning until late in the evening-say nine or ten o'clock.

FOR NIGHT USE.

AV

Gale probably from

the northward.

Gale probably from
the southward.

These storm warnings are almost invariably successful; at any rate, to the extent of 79°2 per cent, in 1873, and 78.2 per cent. in 1874. Nearly half the signals of approaching storms (force of a "fresh gale") were fully justified, and the same was the case for four out of five signals of approaching strong winds (force of a "strong breeze.")

It is not intended that these signals shall be hoisted except in great and dangerous disturbances of the atmosphere, as the central office does not attempt to give notice of local changes, however sudden and dangerous. These should be noted locally, and it is hoped that observers on the spot will be able to supply this intelligence to the

seafaring community. As only the larger outports can be thus warned from the London office, the coastguard is requested to diffuse the intelligence they forward along the

coast.

As yet, these warnings are intended mainly for seamen on land; but it is to be hoped that our lighthouses will, by and by, partake in the useful duty of warning passing ships, not only of the permanent dangers of the hidden rock or sandbank, but also of the coming danger of the hurricane. At the present moment this would be impossible, as we have no electric communication with our lighthouses; but as our beacons are, for the most part, stationed on exposed points of the coast, and in mid-channel, they would be of immense value both in gathering meteorological observations for the central office, and in diffusing its danger-signals. And here we may observe that the Astronomer-Royal would have the electric spark laid on to these lighthouses for the purpose of giving "time" to captains.

Almost every storm of any importance has been thus notified to our maritime population; and as the predictions have almost always been verified by subsequent bad weather, our sailors are beginning to place very great confidence in the system. To the less affluent fishing-villages with which there is no telegraphic communication, the Meteorological Department lends barometers and thermometers of a character suited to the habits of the people. These are generally hung in some exposed position, and the people are taught to read and interpret them—a matter in which even otherwise well-educated persons are apt to find themselves at sea.

Thus it is not the sailor alone that requires instruction in the use of the barometer: there is scarcely one person in a hundred who hangs up a barometer in his hall who can read it properly. It will generally be found that it is hung too high. The vision should be on a level with the top of the mercurial column, as it is according to what that fluid is doing at the moment of observation that good forecasts can be made of what is to come. Thus the condition of the surface of the mercury is especially noteworthy: when it is rising it is convex, and concave when falling—a symptom very clearly visible in modern barometers and thermometers in which the column of mercury is large. Admiral Fitzroy, in his instruc

tions to observers, was careful not to cut off any source of information, as he especially required the indications of Nature to be watched. Thus, when sea-birds fly out early and far to seaward, fair weather may be anticipated; on the contrary, when they hang about the land or fly inward, stormy weather is indicated. When animals, instead of spreading over their usual range, seek sheltered places, storms may be expected. Dew is an indication of fine weather, so is fog; but clearness of the atmosphere near the horizon is a sign of wet. When a mountaineer sees the hills cutting sharp against the sky, he wraps his plaid around him. A good hearing day is also an indication of coming wet. All these indications rest upon exactly the same foundation as what may be termed the more scientific signs-namely, experience.

The growing interest taken in meteorology is characteristic of our epoch. The Daily Telegraph, with its usual public spirit, first started a daily weather-chart, which presents a graphic scheme of the barometric oscillations from day to day, rendering the phenomena plain to every understanding; and several of the weekly papers-the Agricultural Gazette, Lloyd's, etc., have followed this good example by the publication of weather-charts, all excellent in their way, and of great practical utility.

Finally, the growth of the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade seems to bear the same relation to the Shipwreck Relief Society and the Lifeboat Society that preventive medicine does to remedial medicine. Indeed, as we progress in knowledge we are beginning to find out that prevention is better than cure; and, what is more to the purpose, we are becoming enabled to put this prevention into practice.

THE NEW COUNTERBLAST TO TOBACCO.*

THERE is a class of persons who employ themselves with all the energy of despair in raising some cry of alarm, and making everybody about them unnecessarily uncomfortable. They parade their bugaboo with a desperation which ensures a temporary public attention, and as soon as this dies out, they start another of a still more attractive appearance. The Vegetarians would reduce mankind to live upon sky-blue and an apple, or at best an egg; the Maine Law liquor-men would legislate all spirituous and malt liquors off the face of the earth; and now we are to have an anti-tobacco-smoking agitation which is to end in the entire demolition of the "Stygian weed." It is quite clear that this restless class of individuals will not "let a body be," and we may think ourselves lucky if hereafter we are not reduced by them to have our diet regulated by Act of Parliament. The anti-tobaccosmoking agitation is the last issue of this very unpleasant brood, and we believe we are indebted to Mr. John Lizars, of Edinburgh, for the hatching, rearing, and sending it forth in a little pamphlet, termed "Practical Observations on the Use and Abuse of Tobacco," which has already gone through six editions. Upon taking up this publication the other day, we were certainly not a little surprised at some of the statements therein contained, which are calculated, we must confess, to shake the nerves of all smokers already enervated by the abuse of tobacco. The art of making an immediate

* This article had reference to the famous controversy about tobaccosmoking carried on for weeks in the Lancet, in the year 1857, in which Mr. Solly took a prominent part, together with other influential members of the faculty. See Steinmetz's " History of Tobacco " for a resumé of their chief arguments, etc.