of heat received from sun in temperate regions is to amount of heat received from sun in tropical regions as 9'08 is to 12, therefore the Gulf Stream conveys a heat equal to the heat from the sun in temperate regions over 2,062,960 square miles, and as the area of the Atlantic, north of the Straits of Florida, is 8,500,000 square miles, it follows that the heat carried by the Gulf Stream into the Atlantic is to the heat received from the sun over the whole area as 1 to 4, or very nearly. It follows, therefore, that of all the heat possessed by the Northern Atlantic, onefifth is due to the heat of the Gulf Stream. Now, what is the measure of the heat of the waters of the Atlantic? If there were no sun to impart heat to this earth, its temperature would fall to that of stellar space, which scientific men inform us is (minus) 239° Fah. = 295 The actual heat of the water of the North Atlantic is about (plus) 56° Fah., therefore the heat of the sun and the heat of the Gulf Stream are able to raise the temperature of the water 239° + 56° 295° Fah. above stellar space, and we have already seen that one-fifth of this is due to the Gulf Stream, that is = 59°, or in other words 59° of heat is the heating power of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic. The method, of course, by which currents of water affect climate is by imparting their heat to the air which blows over them, and as water has a greater specific heat than air, by 4.2 to 1, and as the density of water is 770 times as great as air, it follows that to contain an equal amount of heat, the current of air must be 3,234 times as great as the current of water, if at the same temperature and the same velocity, it will be seen that a comparatively small current of water will have as great effect in distributing heat as a very much larger body of air. It has been calculated that the Gulf Stream carries with it as much heat as a volume of air 24,000 miles wide, and 14 miles deep, and moving at the rate of 2 miles an hour, at a temperature of 65°. But the point I wish to call attention to is this, that the heated air at the equator never comes into the temperate zones as hot air heated by the rays of a tropical sun, (1) because the trade winds, which blow over tropical regions and take up tropical heat, blow from the temperate zones towards the equator, and not from the equator to the temperate zones, and (2) because the heated air of the equator rises and flows north and south as an upper current above the snow-line, and therefore in a very cold region, and hence by the time the equatorial upper current descends to the earth's surface to blow as a S. W. or N. W. anti-trade wind, it has become a cold or cool and dry wind, and as far as the North Atlantic is concerned, all its warmth and moisture is derived from contact with the Gulf Stream north of the point where the trade and anti-trade winds cross, which is in the northern hemisphere, in about latitude 30° N. Thus we see that it is to the heat carried off by the Gulf Stream from the equatorial regions into the Northern Atlantic that we owe the moisture and warmth of our south-west and west winds, and not to the currents of air or winds blowing direct from the tropics, as no such winds actually do blow, except as upper currents above the snow-line, when they become both cold and dry winds. And I wish particularly to draw attention to this fact, that all heated air has a tendency to rise, being lighter and more expanded than cold air, and hence it rises up from the surface of the earth and becomes an upper current, giving out its heat for the most part into stellar space, and doing but little to warm other portions of the globe, whereas in the case of ocean currents, the warmest water comes to the surface, and flows over or along the surface of the ocean, giving out its warmth to the air above it, and, as I have already shown, heating a much greater volume of air than its own volume, and bringing heat directly from the hottest parts of the globe to the temperate and polar regions, thereby reducing the heat of the one region, and elevating the temperature of the other region. And, again, it must be noticed that the cold water currents sink to the lower strata of the ocean, and do not directly chill or cool down the air above them, though of course the cold currents have the effect of generally reducing the temperature of the ocean, and thus indirectly affect the climate. If all the equatorial regions of the globe were solid land, we should have no equatorial currents at all, and only very feeble currents in the temperate regions, and hence we should lose the benefit of the great amount of heat which I have shown comes into the Atlantic, and the effect would be an increase of heat about the equator, and a very considerable decrease of heat in the temperate regions, and to some degree a lowering or decrease in the heat of the whole globe, as the hot air over the tropics would ascend to the upper regions, and give out its warmth into stellar space. I must not, on this occasion, say more than to point out to you that equatorial currents flowing towards the poles exist in every ocean in both hemispheres. THE TAME HARES OF CARADOC. By Miss HELEN CADDIOK. "Other shelter'd hares That never heard the sanguinary yell Of cruel man, exulting in their woes."-CowPER. On the 9th of July, 1880, four little leverets were found in some mowing grass at Caradoc. They were considered to be not more than a week old. They were too young to eat, and did not do so until nearly a fortnight afterwards. They were put together in a basket of hay, and, after much trouble and perseverance, some warm milk was given them. They would not take it themselves, nor would they suck a quill, but at last some was given to each of them from a small medicine drop-glass. They were fed the last thing at night, but next morning early two of them were dead, and the others seemed almost dying; some warm milk was given immediately, and they were nursed into warmth and comfort. It seemed evident that they required feeding through the night, and this was done for the future, three or four times each night, with milk just warm. They soon began to know the glass, and, when lifted from their box of hay, would come running towards it, and whilst one was fed, the other would sit up, and beat impatiently with its little paws, until its own turn came. In disposition and character they were very different. "Tiney" was very quiet and undemonstrative; but "Jack" was an excitable creature, as lively as possible, and very affectionate. They began to eat food themselves in about a fortnight, when they were fed with sowthistle, dandelion, clover, parsley, and lettuce. Their favourite food was sowthistle, but with this they did not forget to look out for their milk, and if they were not quickly attended to when they wanted it, they would come and beat the bed until they awoke me and got it. They were most lively and active during the night. It was very amusing to see them jumping and scampering about, as playful as kittens, but they were always safely in their box in the morning, generally retiring to it about five or six o'clock. They grew very fast and looked well, but when they had been a month in the house, the lively Jack was seized with fits. He would begin to run about with his head on one side, and then suddenly turn round and round until he fell down exhausted and panting. Various remedies were tried in vain. The fits got worse and worse, and although between the attacks the poor little thing was as patient as possible, licking my hands and liking to be nursed, it became necessary at last to resort to chloroform. The survivor "Tiney" was soon afterwards put into a large pen out of doors, with two little rabbits as companions. They agreed pretty well for a time, but one morning poor Tiney was found in a sad plight; his fur was badly torn off, and his skin much scratched, too. He was brought into the house again, and was nursed for three weeks, until he was quite well. He was ever after terrified at the sight of a rabbit. Once Tiney escaped into the wood near the house, and it was thought he was lost irretrievably. He was found, however, lying on a tuft of dead grass. He lay quite still for me to catch him, and seemed quite pleased to come back into the house. It might be said of him, as the poet Cowper said of his namesake, his own pet hare "Tiney": : "His diet was of wheaten bread, And milk, and oats, and straw; On twigs of hawthorn he regal'd, And, when his juicy salad fail'd, and swedes and mangolds, too, for the matter of that, and any wholesome green food that presented itself. This Tiney, however, had higher instincts. He became accustomed to the luxuries of household life. He was brought into dinner every day, behaved himself with great propriety, and ate what was presented to him. Seated on my lap, or by especial favour on the table, he would remain quite still, and eat off his own plate. Tapioca and custard puddings he seemed to like best, but he would eat any milk pudding, oatmeal biscuits, bread, bread sauce, onion sauce, potatoes, cream cheese, cheese and pastry. On Christmas Day he ate plum pudding, with custard, and seemed thoroughly to enjoy it. Tiney did not seem to mind the smell of meat brought to the table, however it was cooked, but one day when the cover was lifted he became furious with excitement, bit my hand, jumped down, and rushed across to his box. The dish held a roasted hare, which he seemed to recognise at once by instinct. But strange to say, somewhat inverting the customary order of things, he was very fond of red-currant jelly himself whenever it was offered to him. After dinner he would wash his face, and clean all his fur, using both paws like a squirrel, then he would fold his paws under him, and lie down in a corner near the fire by my father's chair, and go to sleep. It has been said that hares never close their eyes in sleep, but Tiney always did so. No ordinary noise or movement would frighten him. He seemed to rely chiefly on his sense of smell, and if he discovered anything new in the room, he was not satisfied until he had thoroughly smelt it over. In his habits he was scrupulously clean, and was never troubled with any insects in his fur. A pet cat, which was often in the room with him, at first used to chase and frighten him into his box, a retreat ever in readiness for him, but they soon got accustomed, and ceased to notice each other; and thus Tiney's life went on through the year. On the 21st of June, 1881, two other little hares were picked up in the mowing grass and brought into the house, and were about the same age, and were fed and brought up in the same way. They presented, too, very similar variation in character, the one being lively, affectionate, and wild with fun as night came on; coming when called by his name, and licking my face and hands with much satisfaction to himself; whilst the other was more shy and reserved in disposition. When put out of the house into a pen three weeks afterwards, the excitable little creature was found dead the next morning. Little Puss missed her companion very much for a time, but at length became contented and happy, and grew rapidly. The jealousy shown by Tiney to little Puss was quite curious; he took every opportunity of striking at the poor little thing with its forepaws and trying to bite it if she came near him, and became quite sulky if Puss was patted or played with in his presence. On leaving home for three or four weeks Puss was kept in the pen and became very wild, and would scarcely allow herself to be caught, and would bite and scream at anyone who attempted to catch her; but on my return she recognized my voice, crouched down in her old corner to be picked up, smelt and licked my hands, and was quite pleased to be fondled. Tiney met with a very sudden end. He was found dead in his pen December 19th, 1881, with his neck dislocated. It is supposed he met with an accident in jumping, which he was apt to indulge in very wildly during night. Puss seemed to mope and decline from Tiney's death. She remained very quiet and affectionate, but refused all food, even the most tempting delicacies, got thinner, and more thin, until she died on my lap about a month afterwards. Thus perished my pets. "I kept them for their humour's sake Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. THURSDAY, MAY 24TH, 1883. LEDBURY AND WALL HILLS. "Fled now the sullen murmurs of the North, Or sweets from frequent showers and evening dews." BLOOMFIELD thus describes the lovely weather, and charming freshness of the spring foliage and flowers, that greeted the first Field meeting of the year of the Woolhope Club. It took place on Thursday, 24th, and passed off very enjoyably. The trysting place was the Ledbury railway station, and on arriving there the members and visitors at once proceeded towards the rocks that are being so extensively quarried for ballast, in forming the new line of railway to Gloucester. The rocks are now extremely well displayed, and they were discussed so individually and so leisurely that it was evident somebody was being waited for. A contingent from the Malvern Club was expected by the train arriving half-an-hour later, it appeared, so the opportunity was taken of transacting the business of the Club. The Rev. Wm. Elliot, of Brinsop; Captain H. Kerr, R.E., Hereford; Mr. Hugh Ronalds, Stretton Sugwas; and Mr. G. Thompson, Great Malvern, were elected members by ballot, and several other gentlemen were proposed. The fourth meeting of the Club to visit Caynham Camp, near Ludlow, and the Titterstone Clee Hill, on Thursday, August 23rd, was changed, for reasons given, to Monday, August 20th. The train had still not arrived, so the interval may be taken to give a list of the members and visitors present. The President, Mr. G. H. Piper, F.G.S., and his brother, Mr. Francis Piper, from Boston, were supported by one of the Vice-presidents, Mr. T. C. Paris; Revs. H. W. Phillott, and Augustin Ley; Drs. Bull and Chapman; and Mr. W. A. Swinburne, Presidents in former years: the Revs. W. Bowell, John Buckle, C. Burrough, J. E. Grasett, Michael Hopton, A. W. Horton, E. Horton (Dymock), John Jackson, A. G. Jones, G. Long, H. B. D. Marshall, J. Tedman, G. Y. Toler, and F. S. StookeVaughan; Messrs. Phillip Ballard, T. D. Burlton, James Davies, Gilbert Davies, J. T. Owen Fowler, E. Maddison, C. G. Martin, Samuel H. Miller, H. C. Moore, and J. J. Mutlow; Captain Morgan, R. E., Dr. J. H. Wood, and Mr. Theophilus Lane, the secretary. With the Malvern train, when it did arrive, came the Rev. W. S. Symonds, who was gladly welcomed by every one present, Messrs. Baines, J. Tom Burgess (a host in himself), R. Cooke, V. Vassar-Smith, and H. Wilson. |