7 
in proportion to the force of the wind — will he the abundance of condensa- 
tion of vapour, and therefore of formation of rain. 
A third test may he added. It has been noticed by the Rev. F. W. Stow 
—an indefatigable observer — that the differences are greatest when the rain 
falls in showers, least when it falls continuously, being in the latter class of 
cases sometimes nil. This again is just what ought to be, if the cause of the 
difference is the relative coldness of the earth. The cooling of the earth is 
due in great measure to radiation. Radiation is impeded by clouds, and 
also by vapour in the air. "When rain falls in showers, the intervals of 
drier air and clearer sky permit freer radiation. On the other hand, when 
rain is continuous, radiation is reduced to a minimum. 
II. 
A Walk to the Cotteswolds, 
By W. W. Stoddart, F.G.S,, F.C.S. 
Mead at the General Meeting held on March 7th, 1872. 
[Abstract.] 
The subject was introduced by a short account of the archaeology of the 
town of Wotton. The old town was destroyed by fire in a distant age, 
and its site was in a place now known as The Brands, probably from that 
circumstance. Few camps of Roman origin exist in the neighbourhood, 
the inhabitants appearing to have submitted without any long or severe 
resistance to their conquerors. Three Eoman roads intersect the district. 
The history of the church and its various endowments was briefly given. 
It owes some part of its revenue to the liberality of the great Bristol 
philanthropist, Edward Colston, who generously increased the value of the 
living, which previously was small. The speaker then passed on to the 
geology of the district, which was the chief subject of the evening. 
During the excursion, an observation was made, which gave the height of 
Tyndal's monument, near Nibley, as 626 feet above the sea level. 
In time not geologically distant, and during an age when the land stood 
considerably lower than now, the sea, there is every reason to believe, 
flowed far up the vale of Tewkesbury and met the deep inlet projecting 
southward from the basin of the Kibble. This, which was first pointed 
out by Sir R. I. Murchison, was called by him the Ancient Straits of 
