2ndly—As the rays of the sun are warded off, the air (beneath the tree) is not heated by the reflection of the earth: and
3rdly—The leaves of trees, being non-conductors, allow no heat to penetrate through them.
Q. Why do the laplanders wear skins, with the fur inwards?
A. The dry skin prevents the wind from penetrating to their body; and as the fur contains a quantity of air between its hairs (which soon becomes heated by the body) the Laplander is clad in a case of hot air, impervious to the cold and wind.
Q. Why does a linen shirt feel colder than a cotton one?
A. Linen is a much better conductor than cotton; and, therefore, (as soon as it touches the body) it more rapidly draws away the heat, and produces a sensation of cold.
Q. Why is the face cooled by wiping the temples with a fine cambric handkerchief?
A. The fine fibres of the cambric have a strong capillary attraction for moisture; and are excellent conductors of heat: thus the moisture and heat are both abstracted from the face, and a sensation of coolness is produced.
“Capillary attraction,” i. e. the attraction of a thread or hair. The wick of a candle is wet with grease, because the melted tallow runs up the cotton from capillary attraction.