252 Mr Scouler on the Temperature of N. W. America. 



has remarked the uncommon mildness of its climate when com- 

 pared with that of the eastern side of the continent in the same 

 parallel of latitude. While the inhabitants of Quebec are sub- 

 jected, during the winter months, to all the severity of the most 

 intense cold, the natives of the Columbia, in nearly the same 

 latitude, are almost strangers to the phenomena of frost and 

 snow, and go about during the coldest season of the year in a 

 state little different from nudity.* The most obvious cause of 

 this remarkable difference of temperature between the two coasts 

 of North America, arises from the N. W. winds which pass over 

 a great extent of the Pacific Ocean, bringing a supply of heat 

 and moisture along with them. The moisture of the country 

 is however excessive, so that from November till March the 

 Indians rarely travel far, on account of the almost incessant 

 showers. The most correct idea of the climate of Columbia 

 will be obtained from the following tables, constructed from the 

 observations made by a gentleman who resided for several years 

 at Fort George. These tables, however, can only be regarded 

 as approximations to accuracy, as the observations were made at 

 the same period of the day during every season of the year, and 

 I am afraid sufficient attention was not paid to the situation of 

 the thermometer. The observations were made at 6 a. m., Noon, 

 and at 6 p. m., and the thermometer was placed in a northern 

 situation. 



In the two following tables the first and second columns give 

 the observed extremes of temperature, and the third gives the 

 mean of all the observations made during each month. 



Table of the Temperature of Fort George, Columbia, Lat, 

 46° 18' Long. 123° W.from June 1821 to June 1822. 





* Notwithstanding this mildness of temperature, the Linncca borealis, 

 which usually prefers a cold climate, is found in abundance on the N. W. 

 coast so far south as lat. 46°. 



