100 NATURAL HISTORY. 



in the bottles a small quantity of liquor meeteth with 

 the sides of the bottles, which compress it so that it 

 doth not open again. 



Experiment solitary touching the working of water upon 

 air contiguous. 



865. Water being contiguous with air, cooleth it, 

 but moisteneth it not, except it vapour. The cause 

 is, for that heat and cold have a virtual transition, with 

 out communication of substance ; but moisture not : 

 and to all madefaction there is required an imbibition : 

 but where the bodies are of such several levity and 

 gravity as they mingle not, there can follow no imbibi 

 tion. And therefore oil likewise lieth at the top of the 

 water, without commixture : and a drop of water run 

 ning swiftly over a straw, or smooth body, wetteth not. 



Experiment solitary touching the nature of air. 



866. Star-light nights, yea, and bright moonshine 

 nights, are colder than cloudy nights. The cause is, 

 the dryness and fineness of the air, which thereby be- 

 cometh more piercing and sharp ; and therefore great 

 continents are colder than islands : and as for the 

 moon, though itself inclineth the air to moisture, yet 

 when it shineth bright, it argueth the air is dry. 

 Also close air is warmer than open air ; which (it 

 may be) is, for that the true cause of cold is an ex 

 piration from the globe of the earth, which in open 

 places is stronger ; and again, air itself, if it be not 

 altered by that expiration, is not without some secret 

 degree of heat ; as it is not likewise without some 

 secret degree of light ; for otherwise cats and owls 

 could not see in the night, but that air hath a little 



