10 Meteorological Observations erie in : 
exercise a considerable influence both on vegetable = animal 
life. "The thermometer, which often sinks at night to 44°, rises” 
in the sun wherever there is a reflected heat, frequently to 120°, 
being equal to the heat of Jamaica; while in the shade, it seldom 
exceeds 65°; so that, on passing fain shade to sunshine, one is 
immediately exposed to a difference of above 5U°, and, in the 
course of twenty-four hours, to nearly 80°. The shade, in con- 
‘sequence, even on the hottest days, imparts a feeling of chilliness; 
while the solar rays seem to scorch like the vapor of a heat 
oven. ‘The same difference is perceptible on the paramos. At 
the foot of the Nevado of Santa Marta I observed the thermome- 
ter at 5a. m. sink to 22°; at 9a. m. it rose to 73° in the sun. 
On the height of Pichan, betwixt Quito and Esmeraldas, eleva- 
tion 12,986 feet, the thermometer stood at 53° in the shade, and 
83° in the sun. On Antisana, the difference was 22° at the same 
time, but 34° betwixt 6a.m.and3 p.m. When the atmosphere 
is calm it is much more considerable. 
5. Although at great elevations, i. e. from 12,000 to 16,000 
feet, it is difficult to form a series of meteorological observations, 
such is the yearly equality of the temperature, that a single day 
may be safely taken as a sample of the whole year; nay, more, 
acollection of observations made at similar heights, though im 
different places, will give a similar result to a series taken on the 
same spot. Thus in the following table there is little difference 
betwixt the result of eight observations made on seven different 
mountains, and the six made on that of Antisana : 
4. {]° Par ae a Santa Marta 15,000 A, .|~ 22° 5h a. mw. 
2. of Cayambe 12,705 on bs * : 
ag Prem of El Altar 12,986 ae-S + 
4. of Condorasto 14.496 45°-0 12 
B.1 Va was of Pichincha 15,705 46°°0 J p.1 
6. | Mountain of Atacaso 820 4I--Ga +t 
7.| Nevado of Cayambe — 14,217 A3°4).. be 4 : 
8. | Paramo of Antisana 14,520 woo GO oe a 
eneral mean 39° 
~ Although it scarcely falls v within t the limits of a mere @ meteote 
logical journal to expatiate on the wide field of inference which 
opens to our view, when we reflect on the influence of temper 
ture, not merely on animal but on social life, yet the operation of 
local circumstances has been so striking, and wil probably play 
so important a part in the future destinies of the South Americal 
continent, that it is difficult to forbear some remarks on so ine 
esting a subject. 
