376 Scientific Intelligence. — Meteorology. 



were apparently brought so close, that the vegetation upon them 

 could be observed : at the same time the sound of the sea inva- 

 riably passed from a grave to an acute sound. The natives 

 prognosticate rain when this particular clearness of the atmo- 

 sphere takes place, and I have generally found them correct." — 

 Annals of Philosophi/. 



3. Magnetizing Poimr of the Sohr Rays. — MM. Ries and 

 Moser, after alluding to the doubts which many philosophers 

 entertained as to the accuracy of M. Morichini's experiments, 

 as to the magnetizing power of the solar rays, observe that the 

 favourable results which INIrs Sommervllle obtained, had dissi- 

 pated the doubts of many persons, and consequently that the 

 supposed discovery had given rise to various theories on the 

 magnetism of the earth and its variations. The authors then 

 detail the I'esults of their own experiments, which seem to have 

 been made with great care, and under varied circumstances : 

 the conclusion at which they arrive, and which seems certainly 

 warranted by their experiments, is, that they have a just title 

 to reject totally a discovery, which, as they say, has disturbed 

 science at various times during seventeen years. The slight 

 variations which they observed in some of their experiments, 

 and which they have not concealed, cannot, they conceive, 

 arise from a real action of the nature of that described by MM. 

 Morichini and Baumgartner, as being so evident and decided ; 

 added to which, these variations are not always favourable to 

 the supposed discovery. 



4. Radiation J'rom Trees. — As a proof of the cold produced 

 in solid substances by radiation, in a clear atmosphere, Dr 

 Guerin has ascertained, as had been previously done by Wells, 

 that the temperature of trees and shrubs is much inferior to that 

 of the air. On the 24th January 1827, at 7 a. m., the air being 

 — 11°.3 cent., the snow adhering to the branches of a cypress 

 and other plants and shrubs, was — 14°.5 and 15°, that is to 

 say, 3°.5 lower than the air. 



5. Eruptions of Water. — During volcanic action, torrents 

 of water sometimes flow from the craters, and sometimes from 



