AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 95 



animals and plants are practically unique in their character 

 and of great scientific interest. 



AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE. 



The western half of the Australian continent is a vast 

 plateau, with stretches of sandy deserts possessing an arid 

 climate. The eastern half is more undulating and less dry, 

 with rivers, harbours, and a richer fauna and flora. The 

 outstanding feature of the Australian climate is no doubt 

 its comparative dryness. About two-fifths of the continent 

 receives less than an average of ten inches ot rain in the year. 

 The rest may be considered as fairly well watered, having a 

 general fall of from 30 to 40 inches. In regard to temperature, 

 the general law is that the climate of Australia is milder than 

 that of corresponding latitudes in the northern hemisphere. 

 As the seasons are reversed, we are not surprised to learn that 

 the coldest month in Australia is July. We may assume 

 that the southern half of Australia has a mean temperature 

 ranging from 45deg. to Gldeg., and the other half from 62deg. 

 to SOdeg. In comparing the former figures with those of the 

 southern counties of England, we find as the result of thirty- 

 five years' observations by the Meteorological Office that 

 the average yearly temperature along our coast, say, from 

 Plymouth to Eastbourne, is very nearly 50.4deg. ; while the 

 average annual rainfall is twenty-four inches. This would 

 give a somewhat approximate resemblance between the 

 climate of our southern coast and certain portions of New 

 South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. In the mountains 

 of the latter the winters are possibly as severe as anything in 

 southern England. Owing to the relatively warm ocean 

 currents setting into the English Channel the air along the 

 south coast is probably the softest in Britain, and when to 

 this is added a moderate rainfall and an abundant sunshine 

 we have a possible key to the favourable growth of sub- 

 tropical plants from Australia and elsewhere. 



