GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 15 



In October the rain becomes general, pouring- 

 clown in torrents from the beginning of August, 

 to the end of October; these islands are occa- 

 sionally visited by dreadful hurricanes, which 

 spread ruin and devastation far and wide. 



In November or December the weather be- 

 comes serene and pleasant, and continues cool 

 and refreshing till the end of April. In general, 

 the low parts of the islands may be described as 

 exposed to a hot and unhealthy temperature, 

 while the mountainous regions enjoy an equal 

 and salutary climate : the principal places in the 

 West Indies where Orchidese are distributed are 

 the Bahamas, Cuba, and St. Domingo ; also in 

 the savannahs of Jamaica, usually found growing 

 upon the ebony {Brya Ebennus^ and calabash 

 {Crescentia cucurhitina) ; and in Dominica, be- 

 longing to the Leeward Islands. In the Wind- 

 ward Islands, the distribution is in St. Vincent, 

 Grenada, and Trinidad ; these islands are rich in 

 almost every tropical production. 



