176 CLIMATE OF [PART I- 



tinual evaporation of watery particles proceeds, and 

 is taken up by the air, we shall readily anticipate 

 that the atmosphere must be almost constantly at 

 or near the point of saturation, and that when any 

 change of temperature takes place the moisture will 

 at once be condensed and fall in the form of rain. 

 The wood-covered hills and the forest-lands, which 

 constitute the greater part of New Zealand, attract 

 this humidity, and render rains more frequent than 

 they would perhaps be if the land were cleared. It 

 rains in New Zealand during all the months of the 

 year, but the greater quantity falls in winter and 

 spring, when there is also the greatest number of 

 rainy days. At Port Nicholson the quantity of rain 

 from April, 1841, to February, 1842, was 34-49 

 inches. The quantity of rain which falls annually 

 at London is only 23*1 inches, according to the re- 

 sults given by Mr. Daniell ; while in the Hebrides 

 the amount is nearly twice as large, ranging from 

 35 to 46 inches. Without pronouncing a decided 

 opinion from a single series of observations, and 

 these taken at only one place, and during ten 

 months, I may, I think, safely draw the conclusion 

 that New Zealand has a rainy climate, and may be 

 ranked, in this respect, with several places in Eng- 

 land. The quantity of rain was distributed over 

 the months in the following manner : 



