60 Mr Murray on the Temperature of 
distribution of temperature, or an unequalized temperature give 
birth to electrical phenomena ; which disturbed balance of tem- 
perature it is the province of electricity to restore, and hence 
the thunder-storm is commissioned to determine the equaliza- 
tion and distribution. This last view of it seems to me most 
probable, and affords a satisfactory view of the beneficent ar- 
rangements of Providence. 
In corroboration of this conclusion, it may be interesting to 
state the remarkable change of temperatures which I ascertained 
to take place during my journey last summer from Basle on 
the Rhine to Paris. 
On the 10th September, at a quarter past 6 p. m. near to 
Montmiral, the thermometer indicated 79° Fahr. ; and the ho- 
rizontally of the clouds announced the distant thunder-storm. 
In ten minutes the instrument rose to 84°.5 ; and at half-past 
6 stood at 74°. Distant lightning. Thermometer subse- 
quently ascended to 90° Fahr. ; and about 7 o’clock had fallen 
to 73° Fahr. It then rose to 78° F. 
Paisley, 1 1th Nov. 1825. 
2. On the Temperature of the Shin of the Dormouse. 
The strange repose of toads, frogs, and lizards, in the solid 
and almost hermetically sealed rock, is a phenomenon import- 
ant to the geologist, and calculated to excite the liveliest inte- 
rest in the physiologist. I have paid some attention to the 
question of torpidity in animals , and ever delight rather to re- 
gister facts (especially where the question is hypothetical), 
than to speculate in the regions of theory. 
In the beginning of last year, I received two dormice from a 
friend in Derbyshire, and commenced a series of experiments 
on the temperature developed by the skin. One of these I ac- 
cidentally lost, it having escaped from confinement ; and I was 
shortly necessitated, from various avocations, to resign the pro- 
secution of my researches with the other. The following is a 
note of the temperature as recorded : 
31st January 1824, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. At 7 h and 25' p. m. air of 
room 48° Fahr. temperature of the dormice under the breast 103° Fahr — I 
soon after lost one of my prisoners. 
At Hull, Yorkshire, 14lh February, at 8 and 30' p. m., air 51° Fahr., tem- 
perature under breast 62° 5' Fahr. The animal semitorpid. 
