268 NA TURAL HISTOR Y OF SELBORNE. 



deep beechen woods of Tisted and Ropley. We remember a little 

 girl who, as she was going to bed, used to remark on such an 

 occurrence, in the true spirit of physico-theology, that the rooks 

 were saying their prayers ; and yet this child was much too young 

 to be aware that the Scriptures have said of the Deity that " he 

 feedeth the ravens who call upon him." 



I am, &c. 



LETTER LX. 



TO THE SAME. 



IN reading Dr. Huxam's " Observations de Acre," c., written at 

 Plymouth, I find by those curious and accurate remarks, which 

 contain an account of the weather from the year 1727 to the year 

 1748 inclusive, that though there is frequent rain in that district of 

 Devonshire, yet the quantity falling is not great ; and that some 

 years it has been very small : for in 1731 the rain measured only 

 I7'266 in. ; and in 1741, 20354 in. ; and again, in 1743, only 20-908 

 in. Places near the sea have frequent scuds, that keep the 

 atmosphere moist, yet do not reach far up into the country ; making 

 thus the maritime situations appear wet, when the rain is not con- 

 siderable. In the wettest years at Plymouth the doctor measured 

 only once 36 ; and again once, viz. 1734, 37-114 in. a quantity of 

 rain that has twice been exceeded at Selborne in the short period 

 of my observations. Dr. Huxam remarks that frequent small 

 rains keep the air moist ; while heavy ones render it more dry, by 

 beating down the vapours. He is also of opinion that the dingy 

 smoky appearance in the sky, in very dry seasons, arises from the 

 want of moisture sufficient to let the light through, and render the 

 atmosphere transparent ; because he had observed several bodies 

 more diaphanous when wet than dry, and did never recollect that 

 the air had that look in rainy seasons. 



My friend, who lives just beyond the top of the down, brought 

 his three swivel guns to try them in my outlet, with their muzzles 

 towards the Hanger, supposing that the report would have had a 

 great effect ; but the experiment did not answer his expectation. 

 He then removed them to the alcove on the Hanger ; when the 

 sound, rushing along the Lythe and Comb Wood was very grand : 



