APPENDIX. 



383 



observed on Cayambe is certainly too high. The mean result 

 for these two summits is probably a near approximation to the 

 average for that height. 



In attempting to draw conclusions from the above table, we 

 must first remark that, in consequence of its position on a 

 plateau, the temperature of Quito is considerably higher than it 

 would probably be if the higher peaks descended with an 

 uniform slope to the sea-level. The difference between the 

 means for that place and Guayaquil is only I2'6'^ C. ; whereas, 

 on the supposition of an uniform decrease in ascending from 

 the sea-level, it should be 14*2°, and still greater if we supposed 

 that the rate of fall of temperature gradually diminishes as the 

 elevation increases. Omitting altogether the results for numbers 

 5, 9, and 1 1 in the above table, we perceive that the observa- 

 tions fall into three groups : (i) those for Chimborazo, at 6253 

 metres ; (2) those for Cotopaxi and Cayambe, with a mean 

 height of 5905 metres ; (3) those for Cahihuairazo, Cotocachi, 

 and Corazon, whose mean height is 4950 metres. To these it 

 may be well to compare the mean of the results for the entire 

 series, and also the rate of decrease between the sea-level and 

 Quito. I shall designate observations included hereunder by 

 numbers corresponding to the lines in the preceding table. 

 The number of metres of ascent corresponding to a fall of 1° C. 

 gives the most convenient measure of the rate of decrease. 



We see from this table that, in ascending from the coast to 

 the highest peaks of Ecuador, the average fall of the ther- 



