620 Meteorological Oblervations. 
ance is made for the greater rarity above, it 
fhould not, on thefe occafions, extend beyond 
two hundred feet from the furface. But fre- 
quently in the fineft weather, when the pre- 
cipitation feemed to. be confined near the 
furface, as in the time of fogs and heavy 
dews, the inferior exceeded the fuperior gage 
one half, and on fome. occafions, received the 
whole of the quantity. precipitated. In like 
manner, at the beginning of moft falls, the 
precipitation feems to be moft copious near the 
furface, and gradually to afcend, or proceed 
from a more elevated portion of the atmofphere ; 
till at laft, when the fall is nearly over, the 
ftratum next the furface, is not only ot ina 
precipitating ftate, but then beginning to re- 
abforb moifture, and to be difpofed to combine 
with it again. In fuch cafes the inferior gage 
becomes minus, and when fo, is no doubt a 
fign that the rain is nearly over. Yet from 
this circumftance no conclufion can be drawn, 
how long it may continue fair; as in fome 
cafes the precipitation has been obferved to 
commence in a few hours, and run on again 
as before. On very few occafions did the pre- 
cipitations appear to have proceeded at the 
beginning from an elevated portion of the 
atmofphere, as the inferior gage was minus ; 
and, at the end of thefe falls, it was as cer- 
tainly obferved to be plus. There is therefore 
reafon 
