3Q6 



PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 



[ANNO 1783. 



suckles they hang out very long. 3dly. It is not true, though it has hitherto 

 been asserted, that the substance which we so absurdly name spermaceti, and 

 which perhaps might with much greater propriety be called sevum physeteris, is 

 found in the ventricles of the brain, and in the cavity of the spinal marrow of 

 the physeter macrocephalus. This fat substance, which is nothing but a kind of 

 suet, undoubtedly formed for some particular purpose of that whale, is contained 

 in a peculiar bony triangular cavity or trunk, which is lodged near the brain, 

 and occupies nearly the whole upper part of the head. This trunk has no com- 

 munication with the brain, but is entirely separated from it by its bony laminas. 

 The brain, as in all other fishes, is very small in comparison with the size of the 

 whale, and lies directly behind the eyes. In order to know whether the trunk 

 in which the spermaceti is lodged had any connection with the brain of the whale, 

 one of the above-mentioned gentlemen had the curiosity to lance that trunk, 

 which in its upper part is only covered with the skin; he found the whale not in 

 the least affected by this, but on the brain being lanced, the same whale died 

 immediately. 



XVI. Extract of a Register of the Barometer, Thermometer, and Rain, at 

 Lyndon, in Rutland, 1782. By Thomas Barker, Esq. p. 242. 



Jan. 



Feb. 



Mar 



Apr. 



May 



Jiuic 



July 



Aug. 



Sept. 



Oct. 



Nov 



Dec, 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Mom. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftern. 



Morn. 



Aftem. 



Barometer. 



Highest. I Lowest. 



30.00 

 29-99 

 29-78 



29.69 



•:g.6'2 



30.05 

 29.S2 



29.64 



29.S9 



29.86 



30.10 

 30.02 



28.45 

 28.72 

 28.57 

 28.09 

 28.54 

 29.06 

 20.10 

 28.60 

 28.73 

 38.80 

 28.51 

 28.95 



Mean. 



Thermometer. 



29.27 



29.50 



29.24 



29-20 



29-24 



29.60 



29.51 



29.21 



29-47 



29. 40 



29.40 



29.57 



In the House. 

 Hig. Low Mean 



Mean of all 



29.39 



I') 

 50 

 48 

 49 

 47 



49 

 49 1 



50 



53 



6*0 



6sh 



71 



68 



69 



62. 



63 



62 1 



64 



52 5 



54 



45 



45 



44J 



44i 



37 



38 



33 



34 



37 



38 



41 



42 



42 



43 



50 



52 



57 h 



59 



55 



5(}h 



52 



53 5 



44s 



45 



34 2 



35 



34| 



34s 



42± 



43" 



37 h 



38A 



4l" 



42 



44 



45 



49 



51 



60 



6\h 



61 1 



62 1 



59' 

 60 



58 



o9h 



±Sh 



*9i 



39h 



40 

 39 



39 



Abroad. 

 Hig. Low Mean 



4.0 



49 



52 



48 



53 



47| 



54 



45 



55 



58 



73 1 



67 5 



82 



62 



75 



57 J 



70k 



58 



67 h 



52 



592 



42 3 

 49 



43 2 

 48 



21J 37| 



30h\ 41| 



23 "I 32 



30^! 38 



23i 34 



37 I 44 



30 3 



3Sh 



33 



42 



44 



52 



50| 



55 



46 



55 



41 



50^ 



30 



42 j 



23 



33 



25 



30 



38 



46 



44J 



55 



55 



66 



56 



66h 



52A 



63. 1 , 



51 



61. J 



41 



50 



32 



38 2 



84 



38 



47 



Rain. 



Lyndon. Sclbourn 

 Hamp. 



2.333 

 .636 

 1.923 

 6.125 

 5.722 

 1.295 

 2.6'97 

 3.11 I 

 5.151 

 1.502 

 1.071 

 0.517 



32.089 



4.64 

 1.98 

 6.54 

 4.57 

 6.34 

 1.75 

 7.09 

 8.28 

 3.72 

 1.93 

 2.51 

 0.01 



50.26 



S. Lamb. 

 Surry. 



2.23 

 0.56 

 2.49 

 2.14 

 4.10 

 0.49 

 6.88 



J-7.80 



1.24 



0.72 



28.65 



