Sg CLIMATE. 



AUKOKAS. 



Another natural phenomenon witnessed often in perfection in 

 winter is the aurora borealis. The play of these northern lights 

 oeeasionally presents a magnificent sight. The wliole heavens 

 are lighted uj^ witli the brilliant display, and huge curtains of 

 all hues seem to wave over the vast concave. 



In winter the thermometer rarely .sinks below zero, and then 

 only for a few hours and but a few degrees. Once in thirty or 

 forty years an exceptionally severe winter is experienced — such 

 as that of 1893-94 — when the thermometer repeatedly reached 

 ten or even fifteen below zero, and, in the more nortliern and 

 exposed places, as low as tliirty-four. This, however, is very 

 rare and of short duration ; usually, open fire-places are suffi- 

 cient to heat tlie houses, only model ately heavy clothing is 

 needed, and open-air exercise is throughout attainal)le. 



NEWFOUNDLAND SUMMERS. 



Tlie summer temperature ranges from seventy to eighty de- 

 grees, not often exceeding tlie latter figure. Tlie extreme heats 

 and colds of Canada and tlie United States are unknown. A 

 fine summer's day in Newfoundland is delightful. The heat is 

 never o^jpressive ; the nights are always cool, and the breezes 

 are balmy and invigorating. From the middle of .June till the 

 middle of September is the true summer, and usually fine 

 weather is experienced, though the changes are at times sudden ; 

 and, of course, there are, as in all countries, imfavourable sum- 

 mers. The robust and healthy ai)pearance of the jieople. their 

 fair complexions, and the numerous instances in which an ex- 

 treme old age is reached, all testify that the climate is salubrious 

 in the highest degree. Malaria is entirely' unknown. 



FOGS PAKTI AL. 



The fogs which have given the country such an undesirable 

 reputation are confiued to the south and south-eastern portion of 

 tlie island. Enormous masses of \apour are generated on the 

 Banks,. which are at a consideiable distauee from the shores of 

 the island, by the mixing there of the heated waters of the Gulf 



