PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 25 



which float In it and the general furface of 

 fea and land to vvhich it is contiguous. 



SECT. III. 



On the Jiher-Uke .jippearance of jyrops of 

 Water on the heaves c/ Cole wort. 



16. It is cofnrrion to admire the volubility 

 and luilre of drops of rain that lie, on the 

 leaves of cclewort and fbme other vegetables ; 

 but no philofdpher, aV far as I know, has put 

 himfelf to the trouble of explaining this cu- 

 rious phanome7i-on. Upon infpedling them nar- 

 rowly, I find, that the luflre of the drop 

 arifes from a copious reflexion of light from 

 the flattened part of its furface contrguous to 

 the plant : I obferVe further, that, when the 

 drop rolls along a part which has been 

 wetted, it immediately lofes all its luflre ; 

 the green plant being then feen clearly thro' 

 it: whereas, in the other cafe, it is hardly to 

 be difcerned. 



17. From thefe two obfervations laid to- 

 gether, we may certainly conclude, That the 

 drop does not really- touch the plant when 

 it has the mercurial appearance, but hangs 



VoL.IL D ia 



