VOL. LXXXVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 337 



resemble much those which are found in the frog, and some other amphibious ani- 

 mals; but this infant could not, like them, be amphibious. Those animals are 

 extremely tenacious of life, so that they live some time, even after their heart and 

 lungs are removed from their bodies; and as their circulation can go on without 

 respiration, it is therefore not wonderful that they often live a considerable time 

 without change of air. Life, in the human species, depends equally on both these 

 actions; for death takes place, if either of them should stop. The circulation of 

 the blood in this infant would have met with no impediment, had it been immersed 

 in water; but, unless respiration went on, which in that state it could not do, the 

 blood could undergo no change in the lungs; and this change is equally essential to 

 the support of life, as the circulation of the blood. 



XIV. On a Singular Instance of Atmospherical Refraction. By Wm. Latham, 



Esq., F. R. &, and A. S. p. 357- 



July 2,6, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, while sitting in my dining-room at 

 this place, Hastings, which is situated on the Parade, close to the sea-shore, nearly 

 fronting the south, my attention was excited by a great number of people running 

 down to the sea side. On inquiring the reason, I was informed that the coast of 

 France was plainly to be distinguished with the naked eye. I immediately went 

 down to the shore, and was surprized to find that, even without the assistance of a 

 telescope, I could very plainly see the cliffs on the opposite coast; which, at the 

 nearest part, are between 40 and 50 miles distant, and are not to be discerned, from 

 that low situation, by the aid of the best glasses. They appeared to be only a few 

 miles off, and seemed to extend for some leagues along the coast. I pursued my 

 walk along the shore to the eastward, close to the water's edge, conversing with the 

 sailors and fishermen on the subject. At first they could not be persuaded of the 

 reality of the appearance ; but they soon became so thoroughly convinced, by the 

 cliffs gradually appearing more elevated, and approaching nearer, as it were, that 

 they pointed out, and named to me, the different places they had been accustomed 

 to visit; such as, the Bay, the Old Head or Man, the Windmill, &c. at Boulogne; 

 St. Vallery, and other places on the coast of Picardy; which they afterwards con- 

 firmed, when they viewed them through their telescopes. Their observations were, 

 that the places appeared as near as if they were sailing, at a small distance, into the 

 harbours. 



Having indulged my curiosity on the shore for near an hour, during which the 

 cliffs appeared to be at some times more bright and near, at others more faint and 

 at a greater distance, but never out of sight, I went on the eastern cliff or hill, 

 which is of a very censiderable height, when a most beautiful scene presented itself 

 to my view ; for I could at once see Dengeness, Dover cliffs, and the French coast, 

 all along from Calais, Boulogne, &c. to St. Vallery; and, as some of the fishermen 

 affirmed, as far to the westward even as Dieppe. By the telescope, the French 

 fishing-boats were plainly to be seen at anchor; and the different colours of the 



VOL. XVIII. X x 



