On the Climate of Nero South Wales, ^r. 93 



pursue its course under water with the greatest celerity, and 

 with equal quickness to raise itself to the surface, when out of 

 reach of its enemies. The root also (Nuphar luteum), whicli 

 composes the principal part of the beast's food, grows at the 

 bottom of streams of water, where are also placed the stores of 

 bark and branches of trees, which the animal collects as part of 

 the provision for winter. 



The beaver appears to be singularly scrupulous in preserving 

 the inside of its house perfectly clean and dry. I have observed 

 it, on leaving the water, to enter its hut, pause on the thresh- 

 hold until it had shaken oif all the drops of water from its sides 

 and tail, after which it betook itself contentedly to its couch. 



1. Climate of New South Wales. 2. Climate of Sennar. 

 1. New South Wales*. 



With regard to the climate of Sydney, winter sets in with 

 May, spring with September, summer in November, and au- 

 tumn in March. Mr Martin observes, that it is only during 

 the summer months that the hot winds occasionally blow, and 

 raise the mercury to 120° F., when exposed to the wind. When 

 these siroccos are about to occur, the sky assumes a lurid ap- 

 pearance, the sun is hid from view, the wind suddenly shifts to 

 the NW., and blows with tremendous violence, and can only be 

 compared to a fiery blast issuing from an immense furnace ; the 

 dust is whirled with rapidity ; distant thunder is heard. At 

 night the flashes of stream-lightning present a continually illu- 

 minated horizon ; vast forests become a universal blaze of fire, 

 and the flames, borne along with the blast, readily find fresh 

 fuel, carrying terror before, and leaving ruin and desolation be- 

 hind. Not only does the field of corn, ready for the sickle, be- 

 come a charred stubble, but houses and domestic animals are 

 reduced to a heap of ashes ; and man himself, while attempting 

 to save his property, has sometimes fallen a victim to its ra- 

 vages. Fortunately these winds seldom last long, rarely more 



" At a meeting of the Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta, held in 

 Chowringhee, on the 4th October, a sketch of the topography of New South 

 Wales, by Mr R. M. Martin, was read and discussed, from which the above 

 is extracted. 



