62 Miscellaneous^ [Jan. 



the hottest months and near the ground, as compared with those in the winter 

 and on mountains ; finally, it is almost an inevitable consequence from what is 

 krown of the gradation of temperature in the atmosphere, that some effect of 

 this kind must necessarily take place. The very common observation of the 

 cooling of the air at the instant of the fall of rain, the fact of small hail or snow 

 whitening the mountains, while the very same precipitations fall as cold rain in 

 the valleys where the dew point may be many degrees above freezing is enough 

 to prove this. A converse proof of the dependence of the quantity of rain at 

 different heights on the state of the air at those heights, is found in the rarer 

 occurrence of a shower falling from a cloud, but dissolving into the air without 

 reaching the ground. Lastly, I cannot forbear remarking, that this hypothesis 

 of augmentation of size of the elementary drops agrees with the result that the 

 increase of quantity of rain for equal lengths of descent is greatest near the 

 ground : for whether the augmentation of each drop be in proportion to its sur- 

 face or its bulk, the consequence must be an increasing rate of augmentation of 

 its quantity as it approaches the ground. 



" The direct mathematical solution of this problem, now that the laws of cool- 

 ing and of the distribution of temperature have undergone such repeated scrutiny, 

 may perhaps be attempted with success ; but for the purpose of eliminating the 

 effects of periodical or local modifying causes, it is desirable that observations on 

 the same plan should be instituted at many and distant places, — both along the 

 coasts and in the interior, — in the humid atmosphere of Cornwall and in the 

 drier air of the mid-land counties. Always, at least three stations should be 

 chosen, as open as possible, one of them very near to the ground : their relative 

 heights, the mean temperatures, the mean ranges of temperature, and the mean 

 dew point for each month should be ascertained. It would be useful to measure 

 the size of the rain-drops, and, if possible, their own temperature. The height 

 of clouds according to the plan of Mr. Dalton, in his Meteorological Essays, 

 and the direction and force of wind should be noted, and distinctions made be- 

 tween snow, hail, and rain. Some of these data I have not yet found the means 

 of procuring, partly in consequnce of the great labour and time required, and 

 partly from the difficulty of well arranging the experiments themselves. But since 

 it is now ascertained that the general results follow some settled laws, and that 

 the effects may be very well appreciated at moderate heights, I hope not only to 

 procure these, but also several other data towards the completion of the theory 

 of this curious subject, the patient investigation of which cannot fail to give us 

 new and penetrating views into the constitution of the atmosphere." 



It will be a curious subject of investigation to determine the applicability of 

 the law of altitude and moisture to this country, and to fix the value of m. This 

 latter may, in some measure, be done from the long series of observations pub- 

 lished in the Surveyor General's Meteorological Register : but for the law of 

 height, we shall require a higher station, and we invite any zealous meteorologist 

 who may have leisure to fix his pluviameter on the top of the Ochterlony monu- 

 ment ; a chuprassee may easily be taught to observe it daily throughout the rains. 

 2. An unusual Sea-Monster in the Bay. 

 [Extract of a Letter from Lieut. W. Foley, 25th Nov. J834.] 



On my voyage to Madras (in May last), I saw a most extraordinary fish, and 

 which had never before been seen by any seaman on board, although some of the 



