If we compare the numerical values for the two oceans

we can easily understand that while, on the one hand, the Spanish seamen called the tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean el golfo de las Damas (the Ladies' Sea), because it was so easy of navigation that a girl might take the helm; on the other hand Varenius should say that the sailors on leaving Acapulco might go to sleep, without minding the helm, as the wind was certain to take them to the Philippine Islands without altering their course.

Maury gives the following table of the exact directions in the four quadrants :

.:

........

The results obtained would be rendered more easy comprehension if they had been calculated according Lambert's method, in which the observed directions the wind in the four quadrants are all projected on tw directions at right angles to each other, viz. E. and W and N. and S. The method which appears best adapte for seafaring men, is that of a graphical representation c the winds observed at various localities on the surface c the sea. This method has been followed with grea success in the 'Wind Charts' of the Board of Trade, &c. published by Admiral Fitzroy in 1856, and in the 'Wind Charts of the South Atlantic Ocean,' and those of the Western and Eastern Portions of the Indian Ocean' for each month of the year. * In these cases, however, it

*

Windkaart van den Zuider Atlant. Oceaan - van het Westelijk Deel and van het Oostelijk Deel der Indische Zee. Published in the 2nd and 3rd volumes of the Uitkomsten van Wetenshap en Ervaring aangaande Winden en Zeestroomingen in Sommige Gedeelten van den Oceaan. Uitgegeven door het Kon. Ned. Meteor. Instituut. Utrecht, 1859. (Results of Science and Experiment respecting the Winds and Marine Currents in certain Parts of the Ocean. Published by the Royal Meteorological Institute of the Netherlands. Utrecht, 1859.)

would be necessary to give the numerical values from which the lines have been constructed, in order that the mean direction might be calculated with accuracy from the results.

These numerical values are given in the 'Monthly Sailing Directions for the Voyage from Java to the British Channel'* for the Atlantic Ocean, from which work I have taken the following tables. In the northern hemisphere I have combined together the three months corresponding to the yearly meteorological seasons; while for the southern I have only given the total for the whole year, inasmuch as the variation in that hemisphere in the course of the year is very slight.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

WINTER.

Latitude.

30°-25° 25°-20° 20°-15° 15°-10° 10°-5° 5°-0° Long. W.. 25°-45° | 25°-45° | 25°-45° 20°-40° 15°-35° | 15°—35°

*

1859.

Maandelijksche Zeilandwijzingen van Java naar het kanaal. Utrecht,

D

SPRING.

Latitude..

30°-25° 25°-20° 20° 15° 15°-10° 10° 5° 5° Long. W.. 25°-45° | 25°-45° | 25°-45° 20°-40° 15°-35° 15°

Latitude.

30°-25° 25°-20° 20°-15° 15°-10° 10° 5° 5° 0 Long. W.. 25°-45° | 25°-45° | 25°-45° 20°-40° | 15°-35° 15°-35

AUTUMN.

Latitude
Long. W.

30°-25° 25°-20° 20°-15° 15°-10° 10° 5° 5°-0°
25°-45° 25°-45° 25°-45° 20°-40° 15° -35° 15°-35°

Latitude

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

YEAR.

0°-5° 5°-10° 10° 15° 15°-20° 20°-25° 25°-30° 30°-36° Longitude 15°-25°W 10°-15°W 5°-15°W 0°-10°W 5°W-10°E 0°-15°E 10°-20°E

The greater constancy of the SE. Trade is very clearly

seen from this, as well as its passage over the equator into