38 Tue CLIMATE OF THE BRITISH ISLEs. 
Temperature variations within the British Isles were dis- 
cussed in detail. Height above sea-level was an important con- 
sideration. We spoke in a vague way of the mild climate of 
Devonshire, having in our minds such places as Dawlish, Tor- 
quay, and Dartmouth; but on the high land in the middle of 
Dartmoor the winter climate was as rigorous as that of Braemar. 
But there was no such range of climate as was to be met with on 
high mountains in tropical countries. On the famous railway 
in Peru, which crossed the Andes at a height of 15,000 feet, as 
great a variety of temperature conditions might be experienced 
in a few hours as would be met with on a journey at sea-level 
from the Equator to a point within the Arctic Circle. 
Just as in the case of the great continents, the coasts of our 
islands enjoyed more equable temperature conditions than inland 
ANNUAL RAINFALL AT CARGEN 
1866-1905 
AVERAGE : 43-87 INCHES ; 
HIGHEST : 63-50 INCHES IN 1872 
LOWEST : 30-77 INCHES IN 1890 
