Reviews and Extracts. 
60 
TABLE 
SHEWING THE NUMBER OF FEET OF AT.TlTUnE CORllESPONUING TO THE 
DEPRESSION OF THE BAROMETER. 
Depression, 
Altitude, in 
feet. 
Depression. 
Aititude. in 
feet. 
,1 
87 
527 
,2 
176 
616 
,3 
262 
,8 
705 
,4 
350 
795 
,5 
439 
1 inch. 
885 
S'SDm.ssrvir. 
This may be useful to the Agriculturist and Horticulturist too, as the tem¬ 
perature diminishes the higher we ascend, causing a consecpaent diminution in 
the productiveness of the soil. 
When the Barometer is used within doors, the best situation for it is any 
room were the temperature is equal and not exposed to sunshine. 
2. — Magazine of Natural History; edited by J. C. Loudon, 
F.L.S. &c. published every two months, 8vo. 3s.6d. 
VoL. IV. No. 20, FOR May, contains, 
Pag'e 245.—Art. 13 .—On the Temperature of the Atmosphere onthe different parts 
of the Earth's Surface, by Mr. W. H. White, H.M.C.S, 
H E says the atmosphere is composed of a thin fluid mass of matter, which gravi • 
tales towards the earth, and revolves with it, both in its diurnal and annual 
motions; a knowledge of which serves to throw much light on the history and 
functions of the animal and vegetable creation, for it is through this medium that 
lieat, light, electricity, oxygen, and the great springs of vital phenomena are con¬ 
veyed to all classes of organized matter. It is by the means of this wonderful 
agent, that we gain the theory of respiration in all classes of creatures possessing 
animal life ;—it is by this we become acquainted with the migrations of animals, 
as w'cll as with many of their peculiar instincts and habits. It is the atmosphere that 
enables us to account for the periodical changes in the plumage of birds, and furs 
of animals, and also the variety of colours to be found amongst them. It is by 
means of the elasticity of the atmosphere, that sounds and odours are transmitted 
to sensitive beings. “ Had a uniform climate” he adds “been established over th.e 
face of the whole earth, we should have been deprived of that beautiful v.arlefy of 
plants and animals which now strikes us with astonishment at every .step. As the 
word climate., according’ to the Greek import, signifies to incline, or to slope, it 
w’as probably first adopted by the ancient geographers, to denote the different 
inclinations at which the rays of the sun fell upon the surface of the earth, and 
which they restricted to certain belts of the earth’s surface, beginning at the 
equator and proceeding towards the poles. The distinction between one of these 
belts and another, or one climate and another, was a difierence of half an hour in 
the length of the longest day. According to this division of the earth’s surface 
into climates, the difference of temperature and the difierence of the length of the 
longest day, lost all proportion; for it was soon discovered that the breadth of the 
first cli nate, that is, the one nearest the equator, rreasured 295 miles, while the 
twenty-second climate, or that in the northern part of England, measured less 
than 70 miles.” 
However satisfactory this might be, to show the inclination of the solar rays, if 
did not in any degree, point out how far the climates of these different latitudes, 
were favorable or unfavorable to animal and vegetable existence. The afu-ieiifs 
