THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 247 



By adding together the number of rainy days in December 1850 and '51, 

 and so of the corresponding months of the two seasons, the two rainy 

 periods and the intervening period of drought are rendered more con- 

 spicuous. 



December 1850 and '51. Days of rain, 19, quantity 8.23 inches. 

 Jaauary 1851 and '52. " 8, " 1.23 



February 1851 and '52. " 8, " 0.47 



March 1851 and '52. " 23, *' 8.28 



Tims in the four months embracing the early and later periods in the 

 two seasons, there were 42 days of rain, and ICi inches, while in 

 the four intermediate months there were only 16 days of rain, and 

 rather less than one inch and three quarters ! 



Dr. Abbott's journal, at Camp Far West, exhibits the same thing, 

 though to a less extent. In that locality the early rains were continued 

 into January. But February was a dry month. That the rule is gen- 

 eral from year to year, the data are not sufficiently extended to war- 

 rant me in declaring ; but the facts evidently tend to that conclusion. 

 I am informed that the month of February was dry, in the memorable 

 winter of 1849-'50, at San Francisco. 



There were 53 days of rain in 1851, at San Francisco, and at Camp 

 Far West, 62 in 1850, and 68 in 1851. In the Atlantic States the ave- 

 rage number of days of rain in the year is about 100. 



The average quantit}^ of water for each day of rain at San Francisco, 

 during the period embraced by the table, was about one fourth of an 

 inch. At Camp Far West it was something more. The average in 

 the Atlantic States is about twice that amount. 



The rains in California are extremely irregular, falling almost inva- 

 riably in showers. A settled and uniform fall of rain for twenty-four 

 hours, or for even twelve hours, would be a strange occurrence. The 

 southeast storms are the longest, but they seldom last many hours ; or 

 at least the rain does not, though the wind may continue. It seldom 

 rains for two consecutive minutes with uniform rapidity. Often, in the 

 space of one minute, there are several distinct showers. The sun 

 breaks forth frequently in the midst of a shower, and directly the sky 

 is almost clear. Presently, when you have no suspicion, you hear the 

 rain on the roof with the suddenness of a shower-bath. These extem- 

 poraneous outpourings come from the wxst, and are always transient. 



The night is more favorable to rain than the day. No matter how 

 dense the clouds, how fair the wind, and how resolute the barometer 

 in its promise of falling weather, the sun rarely fails to break up the 

 arrangements towards noon, and to tumble the dense vapor into con- 

 fused masses. I am informed by Robert Lammont, Esq., who was en- 

 gaged in grading the streets of the city in the pluvious winter aforesaid, 

 that the men in his employ were forced to suspend their labors for only 

 four entire days in the whole time. 



The entire season, with all its rains, is really delightful. It is not winter, 

 but spring. The grass starts, and the fiowers begin to blow on the hills 

 as soon as the early rains have moistened the soil. In January nature 

 wears her green uniform, studded with floral jewels. As spring ad- 

 vances the blossoms increase in variety and profusion, until their yellow 



