Jhms of the late Dfccveries in Science. cop 



aboft continual in winter in the polar regions. For fome 

 years paft it feems in uur climates to have become lefa 

 frequent. 



Lunar period of nineteen years. —It appears that the gene- 

 ral temperature of a year returns the fame every nineteen 

 years, an epoch when the phafes and pofition of the moon, 

 in regard to the earth, are alio the fame. From the above 

 pcfiod, therefore, we may predia, very nearly* the tempera- 

 ture of any given year. This method is praclifed by the 

 makers of almanacks ; and their prediction?, to a certain de- 

 gree, may be depended on. This mode of calculation is well 

 known alfo to merchants who fpeculate in the price of pro- 

 vifions. 



Maurice at Geneva makes meteorological obfervations of 

 the utmoft importance, becaufe he has thermometers placed 

 at different heights above the furface of the earth, as Piclet 

 had formerly, and others at the depth of four feet below it. 

 He gives an account, therefore, of the evaporation of the 

 earth, electricity, humidity, &e. His cbfervations appear 

 every month in an excellent collection, publifhed by the 

 brothers Piclet, under the title of Bibliotbequc Bntannique-. 

 It appears that the thermometer, which is four feet below the 

 earth, frauds generally between 9 and io c Reaum. ($i° and 

 54° Fahr.) and that it experiences very little variation. 



Zoology. — Great attention has been paid to the natural 

 hiftorv of animals. Cuvier has publifhed a number of me- 

 moirs on zoology, and fome have been publifhed alfo by 

 Geoffroy. Daubentoh propofes to divide the animal king- 

 dom into eight claries : — ift, viviparous quadruped?, of 

 which he reckons 415 ; 2d, cetaceous animals 15; 3d, buds 

 2,424 ; all thefe animals have two ventricles in the heart : 

 4th, oviparous quadrupeds, of which he reckons 113 ; 5th, 

 ferpents 175 ; 6th, fifhes 866 ; all thefe animals have only 

 one ventricle in the heart, and their blood is almoft cold : 

 7th, infects, of which he reckons i5>O30; their heart is of 

 Vol. I. P different 



