Chap. Ill] TROPICAL WOODLAND AND GRASSLAND 265 



or even than in East Java ; forests actually leafless by reason of drought are wanting 

 even in the latter district. Mahabaleshwar is surrounded by evergreen forest. Yet 

 at this place there is a long well-marked dry season, which, however, is less poor 

 in precipitation than it is in the lowlands. Lower temperatures and abundance ot 

 moisture in the soil must also essentially co-operate in maintaining the foliage. 



Of further significance to the district of tropical high-forest is, in addition 

 to the large amount of rain, the great atmospheric humidity, which at 

 night approaches saturation, but even during the hours of midday scarcely 

 falls below 70 c / o , at any rate in tracts where evergreen forests occur. 



The importance of temperature as a factor in the formation and main- 

 tenance of tropical high-forest is much less than that of atmospheric preci- 

 pitations. It fluctuates between degrees (25-30 C.) which, if the necessary 

 humidity be present throughout the year, favour all kinds of vegetative 

 activity. Provided the soil is sufficiently moist, it is never high enough 

 to occasion a disproportion between the outgo and intake of water and 

 to bring about consequent wilting or shedding of the foliage. Leaf-fall 

 indeed occurs only where prevalent great heat is associated with a scanty 

 supply of water in the soil and air. 



Tropical High-Forest Climate. 



BATAVIA. 

 6° 11' S., 106 50' E., 7 meters above sea-level. 



