VOL. XXIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 6l 



portion in all places; all which seems reasonable to be expected, by reason of 

 the difference of weather in different places, especially as to wet and dry. 



There is one thing more in the third table, which I think deserves especial 

 remark, because I believe it to be the most considerable alteration of the 

 mercury that has ever happened since the invention of the baroscope; and 

 ihat was the descent on Feb. 3d and 4th last: concerning which Mr. Townley 

 gives me this account: ** That on Feb. 3d the mercury was, at 3 in the morn- 

 ing, at 20.15; at 3h. 28.50; and at 10 at night, at 27.5. The next day it 

 fell yet lower, and about 12 was at the lowest, viz. 27. 3Q; but for an hour be- 

 fore, and as much after, it varied only so much as to make it sensible that it 

 was fallen, and began to rise again; the lowest he had ever seen it before was 

 on Nov. 18, 1674, when it fell to 27-63. That Mr. Flamsteed at the observa- 

 tory observed as remarkable a descent of his mercury; and that it happened 

 about the same time of the day, viz. two o'clock in the afternoon at both 

 places." And lastly he tells me, " That the descent in February last was the 

 greatest that has been, since the filling his tube, which was in March 1665." 

 The particulars which I observed here at Upminster about that descent were, 

 that on Feb. 2 the mercury was high, viz. 29.8O; the next morning 29. 50; at 

 noon 29.16; at night 28.43; the next morning (viz. Feb. 4.) at 7 o'clock, it 

 was at 28.5, and was globose, as if it had risen, or was inclined to rise; but 

 it continued in the same station till afternoon, and then began to rise about 

 2 o'clock, and rose hastily. The weather accompanying was fair on Feb. 3d in 

 the morning; hazy at noon, and rain at night; and a violent tempest in the 

 night, and all the next morning, of Feb. 4th. 



The medium depth of the last 4 years rain, was, at Upminster 18^ inches 

 and in Lancashire 43-iV inches. 



The Eighth Book of East India Plants, sent from Fort St. George to Mr. James 

 Petiver, F.R.S. with his remarks on them, N° 287> p. 1450. 



An enumeration of 51 East India plants. 



On the Seeds of Oranges, &c. By Mr. Anthony Fan Leuwenhoeck. 



N°287, p. 1461. 



I have several times opened the kernels of oranges and lemons, and often 

 found that what we call a stone, kernel, or seed, is improperly so called, and 

 that when we have stripped off its skin or membrane, we shall frequently find 

 that two seeds are inclosed in it, viz. under the skin, and without side of the 

 kernel, there is a small seed; a circumstance which has not occurred tome in 



