372 Foreign and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



the differential of the augmentation of temperature is always pro* 

 portional to the portion of light absorbed. In this way I found that 

 the temperature of the planetary space was 50.35 C., and I acknow- 

 ledge the pleasure I felt at finding the remarkable accordance be- 

 tween these two results, and that of M. Fourier. The circumstance 

 strengthens my opinion, that the formula I have given for the 

 temperature of space deserves to be at least seriously examined. The 

 immediate results which follow, are, that the temperature diminishes 

 in a continually decreasing ratio as we ascend in the atmosphere, and 

 that at a given height this ratio is greater as the temperature at the 

 corresponding surface of the earth is higher. 



* Although I had no intention of examining the formulae relative 

 to the determination of heights by barometrical observations, I. have 

 found, nevertheless, in the observations of M. Gay Lussac, that the 

 influence of the results I have obtained becomes sensible, in the 

 appreciation of heights equally great with that to which he rose, 

 though it is not necessary to take note of it in the estimation of 

 ordinary heights. The form of the function is to me very important, 

 because from it I deduce the refractive power of the atmosphere in 

 all the parts of the course pursued by light ; and as I have already 

 treated minutely the formula derived from it, for the definitive deter- 

 mination of the refractions themselves, so now I am in a condition 

 to investigate the problem in question by the powers of mathematical 

 investigation only, after having subjected it to the severest trials, by 

 means of the physical observations which bear upon it*.' 



7. ON THE RELATION BETWEEN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE 

 STRATIFICATION OP THE EARTH AND THE LINES OF EQUAL 

 MAGNETIC INTENSITY IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. (M. 

 L. A. Necker) 



An interesting paper on this subject has been presented to the Geneva 

 Society by M. Necker. Upon examining Captain Sabine's chart t 

 of the curves of equal magnetic intensity, he was struck by the 

 analogy of their direction with the form and position of the two 

 great continents upon which they were traced. The northern extre- 

 mities of these continents are somewhat symmetrical, and are placed 

 at the extremities of a line, which, passing over the earth's pole, 

 connects the two northern poles of magnetic intensity j the masses 

 of which the continents of Asia and North America are formed, have 

 an apparent tendency to extend themselves in the direction ef the 

 principal axis of the magnetic curves, and consequently on the same 

 line, a tendency which is more manifest in America where the differ- 

 ence between the relative dimensions of the two axes of these curves 

 is greatest. Finally, not only may the coasts of these continents be 

 observed to have a general disposition to conform to the direction of 



* Bib. Univ., 1830, p. 367. Berzelius' Report. 

 f Bib, Univ., 1829, p. 212, or Journal of Science, 1829, July Sept., page 1, 



