480 ASPECT, CLIMATE, AND 
average produces only nine-tenths of an inch, now had six 
inches. With such a state of deposit the number of rainy 
days is probably very great, though I find no detail respecting 
them; and, as a consequence, the saturation of the atmos- 
phere will be such as to bring the prevailing dew-point near 
the temperature. 
Pursuing the circumstances of climate in connexion with 
the vegetation, it may be observed, that the absence of those 
tropical forms so usual in this latitude, or their occurrence in 
such sparing numbers as to make their absence still more 
remarkable, indicates some feature in the climate prejudicial to 
their existence. The cocoa-nut, which so often crowds the 
shores, and delights in the sea-breeze of the tropics, the rich 
luxuriant vegetation, particularly of ferns, is nowhere seen, 
and the tropical endogens are scarcely represented. In 
part this may be attributed to the occasional dryness of the 
atmosphere, but more, I think, is due to the great range of 
temperature, and to the extreme depression sometimes oc- 
curring. The seasons comprehend a summer with the 
warmth of the tropics, and a winter as cold and fickle as 
that of a high latitude, and embrace a temperature ranging 
through sixty-five degrees. Yet, though this may deprive 
hina of a number of valuable fruits and vegetables growing 
in the same latitude elsewhere, it offersa very favourable op- 
portunity for the study of the peculiarities of such as will 
thrive here. By many of its indigenous plants, as Pinus, 
Rubus, Rhododendron, and Viola, we are reminded of the 
sedate flora of our northern countries. On the whole it is 
evident that the vegetation is not what is usual in the same 
When our specimens were collected it was the winter or 
dry season, and vegetation was not in vigour or beauty. 
The distant view of Hong Kong presented a picture of 
sameness and barrenness not likely to convey a very favour- 
able impression of the variety and interest of the vegetation. 
This, however, improved on a closer inspection. The vallies 
are the situations where the greatest diversity is found, the 
