for rain, would be almost imperceptible." Instead, therefore, of detailing conflicting opinions on this subject, we shall state only a few general facts in relation to rain.

It is worthy of our notice, that drops of rain are always found larger in the lower regions of the atmosphere. In going down a high mountain in the time of rain, the drops gradually increase, till, reaching the bottom, they increase from a drizzling shower to a heavy rain. To ascertain the generality of this fact, Dr. Heberden, in the year 1776, made the following experiment. He placed a rain-gauge on the square part of the roof of Westminster Abbey, another on the top of a neighbouring house, considerably lower than the first, and another on the ground, in an adjoining garden. The rain collected in each was as follows:---top of Westminster Abbey, twelve inches; top of the house, eighteen inches; and on the ground, twenty-two inches; so that more rain was collected in the lower than in the upper rain-gauge. The proportions of rain vary in different months of the year. In summer, we

have not so many rainy days as in winter; but the showers are then heavier, the streams of rain closer together, and the quantity which falls is greater than during any other season. Dr. Dalton states that the first six months of the year may be regarded as dry, and the last six as wet months. From certain long-continued observations, it has been inferred that, in spring, it rains oftener in the evening than

in the morning; but that towards the end of summer, oftener in the morning than in the evening; and that storms at this time are apt to occur a little after sunrise. In the progression of the seasons, rain falls at all times during the twenty-four hours, but it has been ascertained that much less falls by day than by night.*

The annual quantity of rain is greatest in tropical countries, and diminishes as we approach the poles, owing to the greater evaporative qualities of the atmosphere in warm than in cold countries. Within the tropics, rain is not of the drizzling character of rain in the temperate zone, but generally falls in such torrents as in other zones would be called waterspouts, and they produce greater floods in a single day than in Europe in six days. Winter is distinguished from summer chiefly by the quantity of rain, which, for six months, is often constant for many days together, and lasts a certain number of hours per day. The rivers, in consequence, overflow, and in many countries produce inundations, which intercept all communications between neighbouring towns and villages. The mean quantity of rain which falls annually in England is thirty-two inches. In the western parts of Scotland, the depth is from thirty to thirty-five inches; in the eastern

*It is said, that on the 29th of October, 1827, there fell, at Joyeuse, in France, twenty-nine inches of rain in twenty-two hours; and, in eleven days, thirty-six inches; which is double that at Paris during the year.

parts, from twenty-four to twenty-eight inches. At Edinburgh, it is twenty-four inches and a half; and in London, twenty-two and one-fifth. There is more rain in the western parts of Britain than in the eastern, because these parts receive the first clouds as they are brought from the Atlantic by the westerly winds. In the West Indies, one hundred and twenty inches fall annually; and, in the East Indies, from eighty to one hundred inches. At Bombay, eighty-two inches, and at Calcutta, eightyone inches fall annually.

When mountain-ranges, and other distant objects, appear nearer to us than usual-when sounds are heard more clearly from a distance -when the odour of plants is more than usually powerful, rain may be soon expected. Ducks, geese, and other water-fowls, before the approach of rain, may be seen to throw water, with their bills, over their heads. Cattle may likewise be seen stretching out their necks, and snuffing in the air with distended nostrils. Dogs, closely confined in a room, become drowsy and stupid before rain; the same is observed in cats, though in a less degree; horses neigh frequently; cattle low; the fallowdeer become restless; and swallows fly in a low course. Delicate persons are often affected before rain, with headaches, pains in old sores which have healed, irritability of temper, the aching of corns, and excessive nervousness. Several flowers and plants are prognosticators of rain. When the flower of the chickweed

closes, showery weather or continued rain may be expected. The trefoil, the convolvulus, and other plants, contract their leaves before the approach of rain. When the moon is of a pure silvery colour, good weather is indicated; but when it has a brownish tint, rain may be expected. When stars are surrounded with coloured halos, the approach of rain is indicated.

In the present constitution of our globe, rain -though sometimes attended with a few inconveniences-is essential for promoting the enjoyments both of man and beast. It moistens and softens the earth, and prepares it for being cultivated, and for affording nourishment to the vegetable tribes, which both adorn the landscape of the world, and afford nourishment to the human race and to every species of animated existence. By falling on high mountains, it carries down with it many particles of loose earth, which serve to fertilize the surrounding valleys, and purifies the air from noxious exhalations, which tend, in their return to the earth, to meliorate the soil. It moderates the heat of the air, and forms one of the sources whence fountains and rivers are supplied. Without the influence of rain, trees, shrubs, and flowers, would soon wither, sicken, and die, and every land be then turned into a barren wilderness. But when the clouds, at seasonable periods, pour down their watery treasures, all sublunary nature is invigorated and refreshed, and the vegetable productions of the

soil are made verdant and flourishing, and adorn the surface of the earth with their gay attire and diversity of colours. In the lan

guage of the Psalmist, "The little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing." He who at first formed the earth for man, "watereth the ridges thereof abundantly," maketh it "soft with showers," blesseth "the springing thereof," and crowneth the year with his goodness.

It is re

presented by the inspired writers as the peculiar prerogative of Jehovah to send rain upon the earth: "Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? Art not thou He, O Lord our God?-for thou hast made all these things." The effects produced by the want of rain is emphatically described by these writers: "Thy heaven that is over thee is as brass, and the earth that is under thee as iron." "The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted. Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vine-dressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. The vine is dried up, and the fig-tree languisheth; the pomegranate-tree, the palm-tree also, and the apple-tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered. .. How do

the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate; . . . for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath