Abstract of Meteorological Observations in Brazil. 425 



Tlie coldest day was the 4th of August, when the mean of 

 the twenty-four hours was 55^'95 ; the hottest was the 31st of 

 December, which averaged 71°*09. 



The last fire-fly was seen on the 10th of May, when the 

 twenty-four hours' average temperature was 60°-87, and the 

 minimum was 50--8. The first fire-fly appeared on the 25th 

 of July, of which the lowest temperature was 52°-l, and the 

 mean 61°'l. 



The large South-American swallow {Andorinha) was first 

 seen on the 15th of September, when the mean temperature 

 was 65°-56, and the lowest 56°-S. 



The American robin [Sabea) commenced its song on the 

 12th of August, when the average temperature was6l"-l,and 

 the minimum 55^-8. About the same time also the humming- 

 bird ceased its low monotonous chant, which during the cold 

 season might have been heard from every low-sheltered bush 

 on the open grounds {Campos) between Gongo and Cattas 



Altas. 



Table V. — Quantity of rain. 



No. of lainy days. Rain. 



January ... 27 35-82 inches, 



February ... 22 17-86 



March .... 22 17-44 



April .... 20 8-36 



May .... 4 1-22 



June .... 4 0-82 



July .... 6 0-87 



August ... 10 1-04 



September . . 3 0-40 



October ... 9 3-44 



November . . 22 16-78 



December . . 28 27-72 



Total in 1847 . . 131-77 

 The heaviest showers during the year were 



January 1, when 75 inches of rain fell in 10 hours. 

 ... 1&2, ... 10- ... ... 36 ... 



18, ... 6-68 ... ... 24 ... 



October 1, ... 2-24 ... ... U ... 



We have had neither hoar-frost nor hail for the year, the 

 cold season having been very mild, and the rainy period re- 

 markably cool. 



1 shortly remove to another residence; this communication 

 therefore records n)y last year's observations in Gongo. 



Gongo Soco Gold Mines, W. J. HenwOOD. 



January 15, 1848. 



