234 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF” SELBORNE, 
the rain measured only 17.266 in.; and in 1741, 20.354 in.; 
and again, in 1743, only 20.908 in. 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 situ- 
ations appear wet, when the rain is not considerable. In the 
wettest years at Plymouth the doctor measured only once 36; 
and again once, viz., 1734, 37.114 in. —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 vapors. He is also of opinion that the 
dingy, smoky appearance in the sky, in very dry seasons, arises 
from the want of moisture sufficient to let the light through, 
and render the atmosphere transparent; because he had 
observed several bodies more diaphanous when wet than dry; 
and did never recollect that the air had that look in rainy 
seasons. 
My friend, who lives just beyond the top of the down, 
brought his three swivel guns to try them in my outlet, with 
their muzzles towards the Hanger, supposing that the report 
would have had a great effect; but the experiment did not 
answer his expectation. He then removed them to the alcove 
on the Hanger, when the sound, rushing along the Lythe and 
Comb Wood, was very grand; but it was at the hermitage 
that the echoes.and repercussions delighted the hearers; not 
only filling the Lythe with the roar, as if all the beeches were 
tearing up by the roots; but, turning to the left, they pervaded 
the vale above Comb Wood ponds; and after a pause seemed 
to take up the crash again, and to extend round Hartley 
Hangers, and to die away at last among the coppices and 
coverts of Wardleham. It has been remarked before that this 
district is an Anathoth, a place of responses or echoes, and 
therefore proper for such experiments: we may further add 
that the pauses in echoes, when they cease and yet are taken 
