27-i Prof. Bischof 07i the Temperature of 



the Uowenherg give reason to suppose, the maximum at these 

 more elevated points happens somewhat later, then it is pro- 

 bable that the observations made at the end of August and the 

 beginning of September were already somewhat under the 

 maximum. 



The maximum, therefore, probably exceeds the observed 

 temperatures at those places by 2o.25, perhaps more, and thus 

 we should have at least 43°.25 for the maximum temperature 

 of the soil on the Spital Matte, which is situated nearly at the 

 height in which, according to our hypothesis, the mean tem- 

 perature is 32°. But where the maximum temperature of the 

 soil reaches 43°.25, no perpetual snow can be found. Even 

 on the top of the Faulhorn the maximum is probably above 

 37° -62, so that here also perennial snow cannot be met with. 

 Yet the summit of this mountain rises as high as the limits of 

 perennial snow in the Alps are supposed to exist. However, 

 these limits are supposed to rise on single insulated peaks, to a 

 height of 8400 — 8700 feet, and on extensive chains of moun- 

 tains to fall to 7800 feet.* 



Besides the observations in the Alps, we have also those made 

 at Dresden, Freyherg, and at several other places in the Saxon 

 Erzgeh'trge, in the years 1830-1833, which furnish us with 

 some data on the decrease of temperature with the height. For 

 2°.2o difference of temperature they give 



From the thermometrical observations of the soil near the 

 surfa«:e, made at various heights in the Erzgebirge, Reich cal- 

 culated that the decrease of temperature in the soil there 



• Ebel, Part II. p 49 On the top of the Seidelhorn, which is 8580 feet 



high, I found no snow on the 18th August 1822; but in a ravine on the 

 eastern side of the mountain, a considerable mass of snow was accumulated. 



