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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Figure 47. — Average (9 years) monthly rainfall for three stations in northeastern Venezuela 

 (in inches): Solid line, Guario; dot-dash line, Jusepin; dash line, San Tome. 



rainfall varies considerably (fig. 48). When the yearly rainfall is 

 approximately 36 inches, as in 1946, serious drought conditions prevail 

 at the termination of the dry season, with the elimination of almost 

 all bodies of surface water within the area. 



The prevailing northeasterly wind blows almost continuously 

 throughout the dry season. The savanna is rarely without a fresh 

 breeze at any time, although in the woods the aii- is often quiet at 

 ground level. 



In spite of the uniformity of the climate there is considerable varia- 

 tion in the numbers of some of the birds, for example, the pufl'bhd 

 Hypnelus b. bicinctus and the jay Xanthoura y. caeruleocephala. 



