578 SUPPLEMENTARY REMARKS ON WINDS. ETC. 



PORTO SANTO.— Falcon Rock, lying near the N.E. edge of the bank 

 of soundings, is very dangerous, being a mere knoll, on which there is 4| 

 fathoms at low water, and breaking in bad weather. It lies on a rocky 

 bank of 11 to 17 fathoms, 3 cables in extent, and from it N.E. Rock bears 

 S.B. I S.. distant 6| miles ; Fonte Rock, S. | W., 4| miles ; and Ferro 

 Island, S.W. by S. | S., 8^ miles. The extreme eastern high land of 

 Porto Santo bearing S.S.W., leads well East of it ; the extreme western 

 high land bearing S. ^ E., leads West of it ; and vessels coming from the 

 N.E., with a fair wind, may pass between the rock and Porto Santo, by 

 keeping Fonte Rock in line with the high land at the S.W. end of the 

 island, bearing S.W. by S. 



It is thought that Falcon Rock may be the site of the Eight Stones, a 

 group of rocks marked on the old charts, and said to have been first 

 seen in 1732, though the position then given is about 80 miles to the 

 northward. They have been moat carefully sought for, and great 

 depths found in and around this locality. 



Styx Bank, 9 cables N. by W. f W. from Falcon Rock, is a rocky area 

 with 12 fathoms least water, and 17 to 20 fathoms near it. At one-third 

 of a mile East of it the depth is 100 fathoms. 



MADEIRA. — The Climate of Madeira, generally, is delicious, and 

 strikes with peculiar charm to a stranger, whom a short voyage has trans- 

 ferred to it from the very midst of the gloom and chill of an English 

 December. Indeed, the great natural distinction of Madeira is the 

 climate, which, taken altogether, is perhaps the finest in the world.* 



In January and February very boisterous South and S.W. winds are 

 sometimes experienced, but N.E. winds prevail as a rule. In February, 

 there are sometimes sudden shifts to East and E.S.E., frequently followed 

 by short gales, with thunder and heavy rain. It often happens that 

 while rain is falling on the North coast, it is clear and fine on the South. 



In March, N.W. winds prevail, sometimes causing a heavy surf at 

 Funchal, rendering cargo operations difficult. There may be heavy falls 

 of snow on the mountains during March and April, the weather being 

 usually very unsettled during the latter month. The N.E. Trade Wind 

 sets in about the middle of April, and continues until the end of Sep- 

 tember, Madeira being outside its limits during the rest of the year. 



In May, June, and July, the nights are generally clear, and the days 

 cloudy, regular land and sea breezes being found near the shore, and N.E. 

 winds in the offing. August and part of September are fine and warm, 

 and the Leste is then sometimes experienced. 



* According to Mr. Johnson (pp. 256—274) the mean monthly temperature, from 

 continuous observations during the 19 years 1865 — 1883, taken at the Fortaleza, 

 Funchal, at an elevation of 82 ft. above the sea, is as follows : — January, 60-53"; 

 February, 60-35*'; March, 60-53°; April, 626°; May, 6467°; June, 6772° ; July, 71-15° ; 

 August, 72-86°; September, 7232°; October, 69-17°; November, 65-39°; December, 

 61-97° ; the mean for the year being 65-76°. The highest temperature registered was 

 90-5°, in July, 1882, and the lowest, 45-68°, March 11th, 1883. The average annual 

 rainfall is 26 inches, varying between 49 inches, in 1867, and 15J inches, in 1877. 

 The year is, therefore, one summer, with comparatively little alteration of tempera- 

 tuto or hue. 



