Scientific Intelligence — Meteorology. 383 



As regards tempei-ature, in considering the climate of Malta, it is 

 necessary to distinguish between the town and the country, the cir- 

 cumstances of the two being in many respects peculiar, and occa- 

 sioning a marked difference in the results of the thermometrical ob- 

 servations. The town of Valetta, by its massive buildings and com- 

 paratively narrow streets, is well fitted to equalize temperature. The 

 country, on the contrary, being almost entirely destitute of wood, its 

 surface rocky, its soil scanty, is better adapted to radiate heat. This 

 distinction is commonly neglected, and, in consequence, the observa- 

 tions which have been made in the city have been applied to the 

 whole island ; and an exaggerated idea has been formed of the 

 equability of the tempei-ature of Malta, and especially during the 

 heats of summer.* 



4. Ignis Fatuus fWill-ivith-a-Wisp, Jack-with-a- Lantern, 

 SpunkieJ observed near Bologna. — In the Annali di Fisica, &c. 

 (vol. iii. p. 36), there is an interesting notice respecting this phe- 

 nomenon by Dr Quirino Barillic Filepauti, from which we think it 

 proper to make the following extract : — 



" The painter Onofrio Zanotti assured me, that one evening, as 

 he was walking with some one in the street Lungo-Reno, he saw, 

 near the house of Professor Santini, globes of fire, in the form of 

 flames, issuing from between the paving-stones of the street, and 

 even among his feet. They rose upwards and disappeared ; he even 

 felt their heat when they passed near him. According to the infor- 

 mation I have collected from many individuals, I have ascertained 

 that St Elmo's fire is often seen in the neighbourhood of the town, 



* Mountains and valleys, the former considerably below the region of perpetual 

 enow, the latter moderately open and exposed to sunshine, appear to have an effect 

 in equalizing temperature somewhat similar to that of massive buildings in towns 

 and narrow streets. In travelling on the continent late in autumn, and in the 

 depth of winter, in passing from a low plain country, as from France into Savoy, 

 or from Lower into Upper Austria, I have been struck with surprise at the mild- 

 ness of the air of the mountain valleys compared with the cold experienced in the 

 lower and open country. But, on reflection, is not the difference such as mi^ht 

 bo expected, considering the causes in operation which have an effect on atmos- 

 pheric temperature, and especially those connected with the radiation of heat ? 

 The damp mountain forests, in absorbing and giving out heat, may act like moun- 

 tain lakes and streams. The rocks on the mountain sides, besides absorbing and 

 giving out heat, must throw back heat which they receive from the valleys. In 

 the economy of nature, the circumstances alluded to seem to be a beautiful provi- 

 sion for softening tiie severity of winter, and rendering habitable regions which 

 the imagination is disposed to conceive the seat of storms and inclemency during 

 the winter season. — Dr Dary on Ihe Tonkin Island! and Mnlln, \u\. i. p. S.'n. 



