Hail occurs in two unlike forms

of different origin, which are now distinguished as hard, or true hail, and soft hail. The latter, often also known as sleet, denotes the fine, light rains that frequently fall in winter, rarely in summer, and seem an accompaniment of snow. The theory of hail formation entertained by many meteorologists is that atmospheric vapor, carried up by vertical motion of the air, is condensed into rain, and at a greater height into snow. The rain-drops, still carried upward, and held suspended for a time, are frozen into clear ice. They may fall in this condition, or may be caught during their fall by the vortex and again carried upward, gaining a new coating of ice, which is covered with frozen snow in the form of granular ice at a higher elevation. By a succe ion of such movements alternate layers of clear and granular ice are formed, the number of layers indicating the number of ascents and descents. These stones may be frozen together during their fall into the nae. irregular ma es often seen. Hail storms are limited in area and brief in duration. They are usually preceded by a sudden and considerable fall of the barometer, attended by wind, and followed by heavy rain.