220 THE NATURAL HISTOEY 



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. Huxhams Obse?*vationes de A ere, &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 17 inch . 266 thou . and in 1741, 20354; and again, in 1743 

 only 20 908. 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 considerable. In the wettest years at Plymouth 

 the Doctor measured only once 36; and again once, viz. 1734, 

 37 114: a quantity of rain that has twice been exceeded at 

 Selborne in the short period of my observations. Dr. Huxham 

 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 Lythc and Comb-wood, was very grand : 

 but it was at the Hermitage that the echoes and repercussions 

 delighted the hearers ; not only filling the Lythe with the roar, 

 as if all the beeches were tearing up by the roots ; but, turning 



