ROOKS RAIN. 305 



When this ceremony is over, with the last gleam 

 of day, they retire for the night to the deep 

 beechen woods of Tisted and Ropley. We re- 

 member 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 Scrip- 

 tures have said of the Deity that " he feedeth 

 the ravens who call upon him." 



LX. 



IN reading Dr. Huxham's Observations de 

 Aere, &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, 

 20 354; and again in 1743, only 20908. 

 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 ; 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, 



