16 FLORA OF DALMATIA, 
to the mountains, and including 2 degrees of latitude, ren- 
ders it evident that the climate cannot be alike throughout. 
Thus Ragusa and Cattaro are warmer by 2 or 3 degrees of 
temperature than the district of Zara near Vellebit. "There 
is no actual winter on the Dalmatian coast; for we cannot 
so term 1—2 degrees of cold, which last but for a few days; 
what sometimes renders the climate inclement is, the preva- 
lence of stormy winds, among which is one called Bora 
(Boreas?), which, rushing over the Canal of Morlacca, raises 
the sea into great waves, and covers vegetation with such a 
sprinkling of salt as to cause its destruction. These storms, 
though violent, are not frequent. They commence in Novem- 
ber, and the winter*begins at the end of that month. Still, 
during December and January, the Crocus, Colchicum, and 
Trias are in blossom, with Helleborus multifidus; the grassy 
places are greener than in August, and in the end of Febru- 
ary, which is generally the most inclement month, the spring 
commences. This is the case with the coast district, every 
thing being a month later on the mountains. A multitude of 
bulbous plants expand, and new flowers adorn every day in 
March. ris tuberosa, Narcissus Tazetta, and Ornithogalum 
reflexum, are seen under the hedges between evergreen shrubs 
of Laurus nobilis, and Pistacia Lentiscus and T'erebinthus. Ge- 
ranium tuberosum, Campanula cordata, and Lathyrus inconspi- 
cuus appear towards the end of March, among the corn. 
By the middle of April, the whole surface of the earth is in a 
blaze of blossom; you cannot gather fast enough, every thing 
goes as rapidly out of flower as it appears, or is immediately 
cropped by the sheep and goats. May is particularly rich in 
Orchidee, and flowering shrubs, while June favours the Um- 
belliferous and Syngenesious plants, and a heat of 179—18? pre- 
vails in the middle of that month. Now the Botanist must 
be quick indeed, for rain ceases, and the heat burns up all 
verdure, and in July ascends to 25°. Not a drop of moisture 
falls till the close of August, except on the mountains; but 
a heavy dew keeps vegetation alive, 
The snow often lies on the higher mountains of Vellebit till 
