CHAP. IX.] 



NEW ZEALAND. 



177 



February, 1841 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July O .?;) 



Ins. 



4-56 

 4-51 

 2-31 

 2-95 

 5-47 

 1-16 



This quantity fell in 133 days, which were dis- 

 tributed thus : 



February 

 March 

 April . 

 May . 

 June . 

 July . 



Days. 



9 

 11 

 18 

 17 



August 



September 



October 



November 



December 



January 



Days. 



14 

 14 

 16 

 14 

 15 

 5 



The dews are particularly heavy during the win- 

 ter months, when the surface of the earth is colder* 

 in comparison to the surrounding atmosphere, than 

 in the other months. In the interior, where there 

 exists a long line of lakes, fogs rest upon them in 

 the mornings, and also upon the river-courses, 

 especially on that of the Waikato and Thames, but 

 they are dispelled by the sun when it has risen 

 some degrees above the horizon, or are driven away 

 by the winds. 



This great quantity of moisture accounts for the 

 vegetation being so vigorous, even in those places 

 where only a thin layer of vegetable earth covers the 

 rocks. Sandy places, which in any other country 

 would be quite barren, are covered with herbage in 

 New Zealand ; and the hills, which in lithological 

 and geological formation resemble those of Devon- 



VOL. i. N 



