364; Dr. Heineken's Meteorological Register 



tions, made upon several instruments^ in various situations; lor 

 the sun is so vertical tliat no Ofie thermometer permafientli/ 

 Jixed in one given place, can remain during the four-and-twenty 

 hours iminfluenced by either its direct or rcjlccted rays : — few 

 persons ivo?dd, and 7ione I believe hitherto have, attempted 

 such a troublesome mode of accui-acy; and as I only pi'ofess 

 to sive the indications of a sinfjle self-rejiisterinjj instrument, 

 I have, alter many trials in a variety of situations, adopted that 

 which appears to be the least objectionable ; namely, an unoccu- 

 pied room, having another over it (for if only covered by the 

 roof it will be palpably influenced by the sun), and the door 

 and windows of which are constantly open. As to the pro- 

 bable average of rain which one year with another falls at 

 the level of Funchal, I incline to differ from Mr. Bowdich. 

 He estimates it at 40 inches, and it is true that 43*35 inches 

 have this year fallen ; but so much rain has not before been 

 remembered by the oldest inhabitant, and last year the amount 

 was only 20*43 inches, making an average of 31*89. 30 inches 

 I should therefore consider much nearer to the truth. The 

 autumnal rains commence generally towards the end of Sep- 

 tember, and terminate in December ; they have more the cha- 

 racter of violent and intermitting showers, than incessant daily 

 rains. The winter rains set in, and prevail more or less 

 throughout January and February, and are far more decided, 

 and tropical. March and April are showery and windy. May 

 fine, with a passing shower ; antl in June, July, August, and 

 part of September, we seldom have a drop of rain. At the 

 level of the city no perceptible dew is produced ; but up the 

 mountains it is pi'ofuse, and all meteorological observations 

 are here circumscribed to a degree which is unknown in an 

 extensive and tolerably plain country. Tables for Funchal 

 belong to that locality only, and cannot in any way be made 

 to suit the island generally ; and until a series of observations 

 shall be made at different heights and in different aspects, it is 

 mere deception to apply any deductions to Madeira as a whole. 

 At the moment that I am writing the sun is shining, and \n 

 these lower regions the daj"^ is lovely; sea-ward the atmo- 

 sphere is cloudless, and there is more need of a parasol than 

 an umbrella: but I have only to look out from a north win- 

 dow, to see it raining in torrents upon the summits of the 

 mountains. 



For the hourly observations of the barometer on the 4th 

 and 5th of December I am indebted to Mr. Wilkinson, a 

 gentleman who to accuracj' and scientific knowledge adds a 

 most enviable share ofindustry and perseverance. 1 am fully 

 sensible that standing by themselves they arc of little comjia- 



rative 



