DISTRIBUTION OP THE RAINFALL. 281 



rains of spring are frequently less than those of winter, the quantity 

 of which is greatly exceeded by that of the autumn rains. 



" The Mediterranean rec/wwe, thus characterised, clears the Appennines 

 and extends itself into the southern portion of the plain, from the Po 

 to Parma and to Guastalla ; but already at Bologne, and in the 

 northern part at Padua and Milan, and in Piedmont at Turin and 

 Yvr^e, the northern regime is again found characterised there as at 

 Geneva by a constant augmentation of the quantity of rain in winter 

 and in autumn, 



"On the circumference of the western branch of the Alps, the pluvial 

 region presents a great difference, such as has already been referred to. 

 On the plain of Switzerland, and on its prolongation to the south-west, 

 from Zurich to the confluence of the Rhone and the Is6re, it is the 

 northern regime which most prevails, with a preponderance of summer 

 rain at Zurich, exceeded by that of autumn rains at Geneva, at 

 Chamberg, at Lyons, and even at Annonay and Tournon (Ardfeche). 

 But it is seen suddenly to change and to pass completely into the 

 Mediterranean regime in the valley of the Rhone, from the point at 

 which it passes the confluence of the Isere." 



There is given a tabulated statement of observations made on the 

 coast of the Mediterranean throughout the year from 1851 to 1866; 

 on the basin of the Rhone from 1853 to 1860 ; and on the basin of 

 the Durance from 1856 to 1866 ; with the names and the altitudes 

 of the stations at which they were made, which gives evidence of the 

 facts stated. The stations included in the table, with the respective 

 altitudes are the following : — On the sea-border of the Mediterranean, 

 Marseilles, Toulon, Hyeres, Genes and Regusse ; in the basin of the 

 Rhone, altitude 40 metres. Valence 113, Lyons 295, Chamberg 305, 

 Geneva 387, Die 413, and Great St. Bernard 2491 ; in the basin of 

 the Durance, Manosque, altitude 370 metres, Digne 639, Serres 662, 

 Gap 740, Castelane 786, Embrun 870, Barcelonne 1173, and Brian- 

 9on 1305. 



And M. Raulin goes on to say : — " As regards the quantity of rain 

 which, upon an average, annually falls on the ground in the Western 

 Alps, there are great diff'erences between difi"erent stations. That 

 of the Great St. Bernard, the most elevated, receives the greatest 

 quantity of water. 



" In the High Alps, and in the Lower Alps, the quantity much 

 less considerable goes on, in general, increasing in proportion as the 

 stations are less elevated, as is also the case from Briangon to Die 

 (Dr6me) and from Bai'celonnette to Regusse (Var). 



2h 



