40 Introduction 



streams for the fisher, there are rare birds 

 for the ornithologist, moths for the entomo- 

 logist, minerals for the geologist, and flowers 

 for the botanist. Indeed, looked at with the 

 eyes of a naturalist, Shetland is rich in natural 

 productions to an extent that is hardly ex- 

 ceeded by any other district in Britain. 



In regard to climate, the temperature of 

 Shetland is not so severe as would be ex- 

 pected from its high latitude, 59 5' south, 

 and 60 50' north point. Even in severe 

 winters the snow does not lie for any con- 

 siderable length of time : the insular situation 

 of the country, constantly exposed to the 

 influence of the sea breezes, furnishes a ready 

 solution of this phenomenon. 



Unfortunately it has been found impossible 

 to obtain any reliable or systematic record 

 of the temperature during recent years. The 

 late Henry Saxby, M.D., kept a record of the 

 weather generally in his Ornithological Diary, 

 but it would be impossible to condense these 

 notes for reproduction here. However, it is 

 interesting to have the record (though old) 

 given in the first edition of this " Flora," from 

 which to strike an average. For it is believed 

 that there has been little appreciable change 



