t- 
Meteorological Register. 287 
Arr. XIV.— Meteorological Register kept at Matanzas ; 
by A. Matuory. 
Matanzas, March 4, 1836. 
TO PROF. SILLIMAN, 
Dear Sir,—I duly received your favor enclosing the scale of Mr. 
Dewitt’s conical raingage, and the New York circular ; and offer in 
return my meteorological observations, made at this place for the 
year 1835. The mean temperature has been considerably lower 
than in former years—the mean of 1834 being 79.27, and of 1833, 
79. Humboldt makes it about 78, which I had thought too low. 
— of February was remarkably cold—and November 
er than October. ‘The summer months were cool, and January 
ranged rather high. I have been at considerable pains to verify the 
observation, that water taken from a considerable depth would give 
the mean temperature of the country, and find it true. [have made 
a series of observations upon the water taken from a well of the 
depth of one hundred and sixty feet, and find it gives a mean of 
seventy eight degrees. In fact the difference between summer and 
winter never amounts to a degree. 
My barometrical observations were made with a new and very 
neat instrument, made by Pike & Sons of New York; but I am 
inclined to think it ranges a little too high; of that however you 
will be the best judge—you will observe that the fluctuation of the 
mercury is extremely small. 
The bygrometrical observations were made with Saussure’s hy- 
grometer, and I believe show a degree of humidity rather greater 
than noted by Humboldt. ‘These instruments were all kept at an 
elevation of twenty five feet above the level of the sea, and about 
three hundred yards from its border, with a free exposure from with- 
out day and night, and properly shaded from any undue reflection. 
The raingage was of the old fashioned conical shape, with receiver, 
stop-cock, and graduated scale. I preferred it toa cylindrical one 
made of glass, or to Dewitt’s, as it loses nothing by evaporation, an 4 
the observation is made with little trouble, at sunrise, for the last. 
twenty four hours, as were those made with the register thermome- 
ter. The windgage used was of my own construction, and answers 
well to show the comparative strength of the wind for the different 
months. It consists simply of a small windmill, the shaft of which 
