264 RAIN. 



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 Scriptures have said 

 of the Deity that " He feedeth the ravens who call upon 

 him."* 



LETTER CIV. 



TO THE HON. DAINES BARRINGTON. 



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 1 748, 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 th . ; and in 1741, 

 20 354; and again, in 1743, only 20 908. 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 consider- 

 able. In the wettest years at Plymouth, the Doctor measured 

 only once 36 ; and again once, viz. 1734, 37 1 14 ; 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.f He is also of opinion, 



* Rooks have undoubtedly a language of their own, which is understood 

 by the whole community ; and a bird set to watch by them has a peculiar 

 note, by which it warns its fellows of approaching danger, and upon the 

 sound of which they all take flight, and always in a direction opposite to 

 where the danger is apprehended. ED. 



j* Mr Spence remarks, on this subject, " The superior dryness of the 

 air in Italy in summer, compared with that of England, and'many parts 

 of the north of Europe, is well known; but I was not aware that the 

 difference is equally striking even in the rainy part of winter, judging, for 

 want of a better hygrometer, from the condensation of moisture on the 

 inside of windows in rooms without a fire, which I have always observed 

 to be very considerable in winter, both in England, and in Brussels, during 

 a three years' residence there, whenever a cold night succeeds a rainy or 

 warm day, the condensed moisture often even running down to the floor ; 

 whereas at Florence, under precisely similar circumstances, I have never 

 but once observed more than a slight condensation in the middle of the 

 panes, as if breathed on, even in rooms with a north aspect, and only once 

 during the frost, any appearance, and that but slight, of that thick crust of 

 ice formed on the inside of the panes in England, and at Brussels, whenever 



