, however violent, which originate
north of the calms of Cancer, owing, perhaps, to their greater
paramagnetic character. This course I have myself observed, in several
instances, about the period of the autumnal equinox--never, however, more
southerly than from S. W. to N. E., on the parallel of 41 deg., except in
three, and, perhaps, four, instances, when it has been S. W. by S. to N.
E. by N. I know of no class of storms in relation to which the evidence of
primary action in the counter-trade is stronger than in those of the class
which originate on the ocean east of the Windward Islands. But it is not
satisfactory as to them. Doubtless the conflict of polarities between the
passing trades is sufficient to produce the showers and rains which are
ordinarily found over the ocean and lowlands, in the equatorial belt; but
it is doubtful whether it is sufficient to produce such extensive,
long-continued, and violent action, as that which characterizes the
hurricane autumnal gales.

They occur, too, at the time when the whole machinery of distribution has
reversed its course, and is rapidly pursuing its journey south. It is a
period of great magnetic disturbance, over both land and sea; of more
active gales and local-increased precipitation. At the Magnetic
Observatory of Toronto, Canada West, these disturbances are carefully and
systematically observed, and their maxima, or periods of greatest
disturbance occur in April and September. (See Silliman's Journal, new
series, vol. xvii. p. 145.)

The tendency to volcanic action is not as great at the autumnal, as at the
vernal equinox, for the reason that most of the volcanic action of the
western hemisphere develops itself now upon South rather than North
America. But both exist, and are active, and what are improperly termed
equinoctial storms, and gales, and rains, are proverbial during, or just
subsequent to, both periods with us--as they are when the same change,
called the breaking up of the monsoons, takes place in the line of
magnetic intensity, over southern and eastern Asia. A volume might be
filled with extracts, showing, at least, most remarkable coincidences
between violent volcanic action and great atmospheric disturbance. Perhaps
the increased fall of rain at and after the equinoxes, in the northern
hemisphere, and in certain localities subject to volcanic activity, is as
strikingly illustrated by the register, kept by Mr. Johnson, on the
volcanic Island of Kau