296 Bibliographical Notices. 



mains on the ground above two or three days, except on the high 

 lands. Thunder and lightning are comparatively unfrequent, and 

 very rarely indeed are the storms attended by serious or awful con- 

 sequences. The prevailing winds are west and north-west. " During 

 the winter season the south-west wind is often accompanied by a 

 warm thick mist, which is peculiarly relaxing, and from its frequency 

 not unaptly styled Devonshire weather." 



u The chief characteristic then of the climate of this district is that 

 of being warm, soft, mild, equably calm and free from storms : though 

 subject to a large share of rain, yet it seldom occurs that a whole 

 day is so unceasingly wet, as not to afford some hours, whether early 

 or late, sufficiently fine for outdoor exercise." The general mildness 

 of the climate is indicated by many tender and delicate exotics 

 flourishing in the open air and not being destroyed during the winter. 

 Among them we may notice Erythrina laurifolia, Laurus Camphor a, 

 Camellia japonica, Thea viridis and Bohea, Magnolia fuscata, Arundo 

 Donax, Agave americana, Passiflora brasiliensis, Hydrangea hortensis, 

 Mimulus cardinalis, Myrtus communis, Tunica Granatum, Citrus medica, 

 Limonum, and aurantium, Olea europcea, Gladiolus cardinalis and psitta- 

 cinus, various species of Alstroemeria,Callistemon salignum, Cheiranthus 

 tristis, Salvia angustifolia, Ceanothus azureus. 



In illustrating the effects of climate upon the constitutions of the 

 inhabitants, a description is given of the diseases incidental to the 

 district. The results are deduced from the cases admitted to the 

 Exeter Dispensary during ten years, and embrace 11,258 patients, 

 of whom 4535 were males and 6723 females. September appears to 

 be the healthiest month in the year. A diagram is given showing 

 the relative number per cent, of sick persons in each month, and full 

 tables are given illustrating the prevalence of particular diseases. 



This being more immediately connected with medicine, we do not 

 enter upon it. We would recommend to all medical men this part 

 of the work, as well as the notice of those diseases in which the cli- 

 mate of Devonshire proves beneficial. 



In treating of the geology of the district Dr. Shafter remarks, that 

 the rocks which occur present a very extensive series. " ranging from 

 the granite to the lower cretaceous group ; the series however is by 

 no means complete, many of the intervening rocks being wanting. 

 Those which present themselves for investigation are granite, grau- 

 wacke slates, carbonaceous rocks, schists, limestone, new red sand- 

 stone (including Exeter conglomerate), greensand, granitic green- 

 stone and trap rocks." 



The indigenous Phanerogamous plants of Devonshire are said to 

 amount to about 800, and the following is given as the number of 

 species in the different natural Orders : — 



MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



Graminese 75 Aroidese 8 



Cyperacese 48 Asphodelese 5 



Juncacese 16 And referable to eight other 



Orchidaceae 13 natural Orders 13 



Fluviales 10 



