TOL. X.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ^U 



roots, though in a low situation. The wind blew from the north-west, and for 

 a long time it had continued westerly. 



There is a little lake in Straherrick, on the Lord Lovel's * lands, which never 

 freezes all over, even in the most vehement frosts, before February; but one 

 night's frost after that will freeze it all over, and two nights will make the ice of 

 a very considerable thickness. I have since been told of two other lakes, one 

 of which is on lands belonging to myself, called Loch Monar, pretty large, 

 which steadily keeps the same course. There is another little lake in Straglash 

 at Glencanich, on lands belonging to one Chisholm ; the lake lies in a bottom 

 between the tops of a very high hill, so that the bottom itself is very high. 

 This lake never wants ice on it in the middle, even in the hottest summer, 

 though it thaws near the edges: and this ice is found on it, though the sun, by 

 reason of the reflexion from the hills in that country is very hot, and lakes 

 lying as high in the neighbourhood have no such phenomenon. It is observable 

 also, that about the borders of this lake the grass keeps a continual verdure, as 

 if it were in a constant spring, and feeds and fattens cattle more in a week, than 

 any other grass in a fortnight. 



Our famous lake Ness never freezes; but, on the contrary, in the most 

 violent frosts, the greater clouds of steams arise from it, which are soft and 

 warm ; and it is observed, that rosemary continued in the gardens about the 

 lake's side, notwithstanding the last winter's long and violent frosts ; whereas a 

 far less violent winter usually kills all the rosemary which is in gardens that lie in 

 warmer places, and at the sea side : and though I live near it, and in a better soil 

 and warmer situation, yet any winter, more than usually cold, kills my rosemary, 

 though covered over with straw and litter: whereas near Loch Ness it remained 

 good, though uncovered, in the last sharp winter; which is attributed to the 

 warm steams from that lake. 



In Glenelg, at a place called Achigniglium, there is a little rivulet, which turns 

 holly into a greenish stone, of which tinkers, that work in brass, make both 

 their moulds and melting pots ; and women their round whirls for spinning. 



A Conjecture concerning the Bladders of Air that are found in Fishes ; communi- 

 cated by K.\\ and illustrated by an Experiment suggested by the Hon, Robert 

 Boyle. N° 114, p. 310. 



Reflecting on that question, whether liquids gravitate on bodies immersed or 

 not ? I came to a resolution in my own mind, that they do gravitate ; and one of 

 the greatest reasons that occurred to me was, that a bubble of air, rising from 

 the bottom^ dilates itself all the way to the top ; which is caused by the lessening 



* Probably misprinted for Lord Loyat, 



