274 Mr Marshall's Meteorological Summary for 1826. 



more complete one by a secretion from glands below its head ; 

 the Spatangus buries itself in the sand by the action of its 

 spines ; and bivalves, such as the Mya truncata, effect their 

 purpose by the action of their muscular foot. 



Art. XXII. — Summary for the year 1826, of the state of the 

 Barometer •, Thermometer, fyc. in Kendal. By Mr Samuel 

 Marshall. Communicated by the Author. 



The following summary of the meteorological phenomena for 

 1826, presents, in most respects, unusual results for this part 

 of the country. The barometer throughout the year has main- 

 tained an altitude not very common for the height of Kendal 

 above the level of the sea. This will appear from the mean al- 

 titude for the three preceding years ; that of 1823 being 29.56 ; 

 for 1824, 29.66; and for 1825, 29,64. The greatest height 

 of the barometer, 30.78, was on the 19th April, and the least 

 28.62, on the 2d December. The mean temperature (47.°81) 

 is also greater than in these years. This is a circumstance 

 which has been generally experienced in every part of the 

 island. In 1823, the mean temperature was 45.00 degrees; 

 in 1824, 46.88 degrees ; and in 1825, 47.49 degrees. It is 

 generally admitted that no parallel to the late summer can be 

 found, for intense heat and dryness, for the last sixty-three 

 years. In this instance, as in the year 1763, the drought of 

 the summer has been succeeded by an unusually mild and open 

 autumn and winter, so far as the latter season has advanced. 

 To the last day of the year, vegetation has maintained much 

 of its verdant appearance ; and cattle in this part have been 

 enabled to derive the greater part of their sustenance from the 

 fields. The dryness of the year is sufficiently proved from the 

 circumstance, that only 43.060 inches of rain have fallen in 

 that period ; and within sixteen miles of this town, (Yealand,) 

 but 29^ inches have fallen. In 1825, 59-973 inches of rain 

 were taken at Kendal ; and in the three preceding years of 

 1822, 1823, and 1824, nearly 63 inches fell in each year. 



In this town, the winds from the S. W. may be said to pre- 

 vail during nine months in the year; but in 1826, only five 



