50 . Dr Scoresby on the Colours of (he Dew-Drop, 



clay, sand, and gravel, that are visible over almost the whole 

 surface of the globe. 



In conclusion, if the few facts and observations stated in the 

 foregoing paper be more generally corroborated by other ob- 

 servers, and their deductions be added to my own, we may 

 feel satisfied that we have new and independent data, apart 

 from all glacial phenomena, to support the doctrine of a gene - 

 ral congelation having obtained over a great part of the sur- 

 face of the earth in these latitudes. 



By what means, meteoric or mundane, this general refrige- 

 ration was occasioned, is quite a subject of conjecture. 

 Whether it arose from a greater distribution of land towards 

 the north pole, or from a greater inclination of the polar axis 

 of the earth in relation to the plane of the ecliptic, or whether 

 from a temporary greater eccentricity of the earth's orbit, or 

 from any other equally conjectural cause, it is quite futile to 

 speculate upon. The simple facts and arguments deduced on 

 the more precise subject of the fragmentary beds of the superfi- 

 cial sandstone rocks, andexplanatory of their present nature and 

 configuration, formed my sole reason for craving alittle attention 

 to a subject which I hope will receive some share of considera- 

 tion from geologists, whenever any opportunities occur of ob- 

 serving similar appearances, so that as much light as possible 

 may be thrown on the formation and chronology of our super- 

 ficial deposits. 



Explanation of sections of sandstone-rocks, their fragmentary beds, 

 and incumbent diluvium. Plate II. figs. 1 and 2. 



A the soil ; B diluvium with sand and boulders ; C the disintegrated 

 beds; D compact rock; 



Manchester, 2d Apnl 1841. 



07t the Colours of the Bew-Drop^ with a simple Method of ob- 

 serving them. By the Rev. W. Scoresby, D.D., F.R.SS. 

 of Lond. & Edln., Corresponding Member of the Institute 

 of France, &c. &c. Communicated by the Author. 



In preparing a paper for the Philosophical Society of Brad- 

 ford, on the Phenomena of the Rain-Drop and Dew- Drop, as 

 exhibited in the range of physical sciences connected with 



