10 



Meteorological Observations made in 



exercise a considerable influence both on vegetable and 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 j while in the shade, it seldom 

 exceeds 65^; so that, on passing from shade to sunshine, one is 

 immediately exposed to a diiFerence of above 50^, and, in the 

 coarse of twenty-four hours, to nearly 80"^. The shade, in con- 

 sequence; even on the hottest days, imparts a fechng of chilUness; 

 while the solar rays seem to scorch like the vapor of a heated 

 oven. The same diflerence is perceptible on Xhe paramos. At 

 the foot of the Nevado of Santa Marta I observed the thermome- 

 ter at 5 a. m. sink to 22^ ; at 9 a. m. it rose to 73^ in the sun. 

 On the height of Pichan, betwixt Q.uito 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 G a. m. and 3 p. m. When the atmosphere 

 is calm it is much more considerable. 



5. Although at great elevations, i. e. from 12,000 to 1G,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, 

 a collection of observ^ations made at similar heights, though in 

 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 : 



1. 



2. 



3. 



4. 



5. 



6. 



7. 

 8. 



Paramo of Santa Marta 

 Paramo ofCaynmbe 



Paramo of Ei Altar 

 Mine of Coiidorasto 

 Volcano of Pichincha 

 Mouniain of Atacaso 

 Nevado of Cayambe 

 Paramo of Antisana 



General mean 



15,000 ft. 



12,705 



12,936 



14.4! !6 



15,705 



14,^20 



14.217 



14,520 



« 



22° 



42° -8 

 450-0 12 

 46°- 

 41°0 

 43°-0 li 

 38°-58 6 

 39° 



5^ A. M. 



It 



1 P. M. 



a 



" observations 



Although it scarcely falls within the limits of a mere meteoro- 

 logical journal to expatiate on the wide field of inference which 

 opens to our view, when we reflect on the influence of tempera- 

 ture, not merely on animal but on social life, yet the operation of 

 local circumstances has been so striking, and will probably play 

 so important a part in the future destinies of the South American 



continent, that it is difficult to forbear some remarks on so inter- 

 esting a subject. 



