CENTURY IX. 409 



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, 

 without 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 fol 

 low no imbibition. And therefore, oil likewise lieth 

 at the top of the water, without commixture : and a 

 drop of water running swiftly over a straw or 

 smooth body, wetteth not. 



Experiment solitary touching the nature of air. 

 86G. Star-light nights, yea, and bright moon 

 shine nights, are colder than cloudy nights. The 

 cause is, the dryness and fineness of the air, which 

 thereby becometh more piercing and sharp ; and 

 therefore great continents are colder than islands : 

 and as for the moon, though itself incline th 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 expiration 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 



