^(j Introduction: Seasons and Winds. 



S. E. Monsoon of June— September, while Constantinhafen lies sheltered from 

 wind and rain by the mountains, Avhich also, with some other nearer hills, 

 protect Hatzfeldhafen. During the N. W. Monsoon the case is reversed, Finsch- 

 hafen is now sheltered by the FinisteiTe Mts., and the other two exposed to 

 the wind. Consequently Finschhafen has its fine season with this . the N. A^^ 

 Monsoon, and its rainy season with the S. E. Monsoon, while at Constantin- and 

 Hatzfeldhafen exactly the opposite takes place. The total rainfall for the year 

 being given as 1 00, the following shows the percentage of rain when the different 

 Monsoons are in force: 



Finschhafen. Constantinhafen. Hatzfeldhafen. 



Dec— April 1886/87 \1 % 58^ 62^ 



Dec— April 1887,88 18^ m% 68^ 



June— Sept. 1886 58^ — 11^ 



June— Sept. 1887 62^ 18^ 17^ 



These results held good for the subsequent reports in 18S8 and 1890. (Nach- 

 richten liber Kaiser Wilhelms-Land, ISSS, 160). 



In South-eastern New Guinea Capt. Moresby states that "the JS'.W. Monsoon 

 blows from November till March, accompanied with occasional westerly gales, 

 and with fine-weather intervals". D'Albertis says that a S.E. wind blows at 

 Yule Island for 8 months and confirms Moresby's remarks in stating that the 

 rainy months are November — February (N. G. 1880, I, 402). The same traveller 

 found that heavy rains fall in the valley of the Fly River from December to 

 April. In the dry and cooler season May — August the max. heat was 29.5" C, 

 and during the hotter months rarely rose to 35" C. 



Solomoti Islands. — This group is subject to variable winds, violent squalls, 

 and heavy rainfall. The N.E. Monsoon from the end of November to the end 

 of March is considered to be the rainy season. Heavy gales from the west 

 and north-west are not infrequent at this period. The S.E. Trade-wind from 

 April to November seems to blow in fits and starts, interrupted by calms, 

 variable winds, and often heavy squalls and much rain. The temperature varies 

 little: 75" F. at night to 90"— 95" F. at noon Leeper, J. R. Met. Soc. 1885, 

 309—313). 



Northern Australia. — Here the N.W. Monsoon brings the rains, and the 

 S.E. Monsoon, blowing out of the interior, is of course very dry. 



This rough sketch of the winds and rainfall in the East Indian Archipelago 

 may, it is hoped, prove to be not without use in the study of the climatic 

 variation of birds, of their local movements, their niditication and moulting. 

 The winds and rains and temperature are also factors which should be taken 

 into consideration in questions concerning the geographical distribution of bii-ds. 



