74 On the Temperature of Man within the Tropics, 



ferences deducible from the discovery of rain-prints in rocks 

 of such remote antiquity. They confirm the ideas entertained 

 of the humid climate of the carboniferous period, the forests 

 of which we know were continuous over areas several hun- 

 dreds of miles in diameter. The average dimensions of the 

 drops indicate showers of ordinary force ; and shew that the 

 atmosphere corresponded in density as well as in the vary- 

 ing temperature of its different currents with that which now 

 invests the globe. The triassic hail, moreover, implies that 

 some regions of the atmosphere were at this epoch intensely 

 cold ; and coupled with the foot-prints, worm tracks, ripple^ 

 marks, and the casts of cracks formed by the drying of mud,* 

 these impressions of rain clearly point to the existence of 

 sea-beaches where tides rose and fell, and therefore lead us 

 to presume the joint influence of the moon and sun. Hence 

 we are led on to infer that at this ancient era, the earth with 

 its attendant planet was revolving as now, round the sun, as 

 the centre of our system, which probably belonged then as 

 now to one of those countless clusters of stars with which 

 space is filled. C. L, 



On the Temperature of Man within the Tropics. 



Dr John Davy, in an interesting memoir just published in the 

 Transactions of the Royal Society of London, draws the following 

 conclusions, which, he says, appear to be either proved or rendered 

 probable by the results and tables in the memoir, supposing, as it is 

 believed, that, were the observations extended to many individuals, 

 no material discrepancy would be witnessed. 



1. That the average temperature of man within the tropics is a. 

 little higher, nearly 1°, than in a temperate climate, such as that of 

 England. 



2. That within the tropics, as had before been found in cooler 

 regions, the temperature of the body is almost constantly fluctuating, 

 — varying according to the variety of agencies to which it is subject, 

 some of which are distinct, others obscure. 



3. That the order of fluctuation observed there is different from 

 that in a cooler climate, the minimum degree of temperature being 

 commonly early in the morning, after the night's rest, and not at 

 night previous to going to rest. 



4. That all exertion, whetlier of body or mind, except it be very 



