1 8 MADEIRA METEOROLOGIC. PART HI. 



densed view of the annual climate of Madeira, I have 

 thought it a duty to quote principally from Dr. Mason 

 for the temperatures of dry and wet thermometers ; 

 while I have culled more equally from all other available 

 authorities for barometric pressure, rain, wind, clouds, 

 and some other accompaniments. 



Yet, for " the direction of the wind," I have found it 

 necessary to eschew the most abundant and, at first sight, 

 most unexceptionable returns of all, viz. those of the 

 Government Observatory in Funchal, as published regu- 

 larly year after year in Lisbon. They are probably quite 

 correct instrumentally for the particular spot where their 

 improved and very modern cup-anemometer stands. But 

 the spot itself is an anomaly, being exposed to a singular 

 caprice of Nature, causing the general law for the whole 

 region to be entirely misapprehended, during the summer 

 season at least. 



In that part of the year, the north-east trade-wind, as 

 a rule, blows over the whole island, blows directly upon 

 its northern, eastern, and western sides, and even on 

 portions of its southern side, but not under the lee of the 

 highest land it contains. Wherefore Funchal, the capital 

 city, which is precisely so situated, never experiences 

 anything of the grand trade-wind current which is sweep- 

 ing over three-fourths of the island, and ruling the ocean 

 far and away around it ; but gets at that very time merely 

 a little anomalous indraft from the opposite or south- 

 western quarter ; just enough to make an improved self- 



