THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 193 



was found to have risen twelve feet in twenty-four hours, overflowing 

 its natural banks, and cutting off all communication with the interior 

 by stages. On the 31st the American river, which empties into the 

 Sacramento on the north side of the city, fell four feet in twenty-four 

 hours ; but the height of the Sacramento river remained unchanged, 

 having attained within three inches of being as high as it was on the 

 1st of January. 



April 1. — The river commenced backing up through a break in the 

 levee at Sutterville, about two miles south of the city, and continued 

 to rise at the rate of one inch per hour until the streets were again 

 overflowed on the morning of the 2d, On the 4th heavy warm raitva 

 from the south commenced falling ; the weather became genial, and 

 vegetation began to burst forth. Notwithstanding the river began to 

 fall slowly and steadily, it was still kept high by these spring showers. 

 On the 13th, during a heavy shower from the south, vivid flashes 

 of lightning, followed quickly by thunder, were witnessed ; which 

 phenomena also occurred on the iTth and 29th. At the latter date 

 the rain was ushered in by a sprinkle of hail from a nimboid-cumulus 

 from the southeast. The severest storm of the season occurred on the 

 night of the 16th, the wind blowing a gale from the southeast, accom- 

 panied by rain. 



May was unusually boisterous ; high winds prevailing frequently 

 from the south and southwest. The last shower of the regular rainy 

 season occurred on the 20th. There was afterwards a sprinkle ( n the 

 28th and 29th. At the close of the month the river was within a few 

 inches of the top of its natural banks, and still falling very slowly. 



June was the hottest month in the year, and was generally so 

 throughout the State. On the 19th the barometer fell to the mini- 

 mum of the month, lower than it was ever known, with the wind 

 strong from the southeast. This uncommon disturbance of the equi- 

 librium of the atmosphere was followed by no other appreciable effects 

 here than a considerable moderation of temperature, and a brisk 

 shower of rain on the 26th ; an unusual occurrence in June. The 

 mean temperature was 80° when the sun entered Cancer, and the 

 mean reading of the barometer was 29.25 inches: weather clear, and 

 wind veering from south to northwest. 



July was rendered most agreeable by a greater proportion of rela- 

 tive moisture in the atmosphere than is usually found during mid- 

 summer, and which may be attributed to the prevalence of southeast 

 winds. Two sprinkles of rain — one on the 17th and the other on the 

 21st — occurred this month. That on the 17th happened about sunset, 

 when a beautiful rainbow was refracted. 



August was characterized by remarkably cool nights. The minima 

 observed on the nights of the 13th and 31st were 51° and 50° respect- 

 ively. 



September was comparatively a sultry month ; the wind being gen- 

 erally very light, particularly during the last four days. A brisk 

 shower of rain occurred at daylight on tlie 15th, with the wind from 

 southwest, and the barometer reading 29.90 inches. On the 22d, the 

 mean reading of the barometer was 30.05 inches, and of the ther- 

 mometer 74° : sky clear, and wind southerly and light. 

 13 



