398 HI. W. Dove on Rain in the Temperate Zone. 
dns utrasque igitur quom ceeli emer’ constant, 
Tum varie cause concurrunt nee 
Nam fretus ipse anni permisc EGigu 
Quorum utrumque opus est nbc nda ‘a oak nobis, 
Ut seoeraie sit rerum, magno chi tu 
Ignibus entis Fonibandpe ae 
Prima pits enim pars, et pe ema ri igoris, 
Tempus id est vernum: gel e pugnare necesse est 
Dissimileis iuter sese, i a ue mixtas. 
Et calor extremus primo cum frigore mixtus 
Volvitur, auctumni quod tack nomine yn 
Hexic quoque confligunt hyem tatibus a 
Propterea, sunt hee bella anni i rt tna Riepretiv, VI, 357. 
This pemeriptiens which is exact for Italy, little suits our cli- 
mate, the greatest number of rain-showers and the most storms 
occurring =r us in the mid-summer months. But since the 
beginning and the end of the rainy period in Italy are marked by 
strong southerly winds, and a number of rules for the weather 
e e down from the olden time, which have their import- 
ance only over limited geographical distances, it hence seems to 
me not ublikely that the well-known cereals storms may still 
be admitted by us although in spite of the rule, we look in vain 
for them in our bright quiet September, and are not satisfied with 
the astronomical explanation of the postponement of the au- 
tumnal equinoctial to November or December. 
The first explanation of this phenomenon is given by L. v 
Buch in his observations on the climate of the Canary ielandés 
“The Canary Islands,” he says, “feel nothing that corresponds to 
the tropical rains, those rains, that is, which according to the sail- 
since this air in the autumn temperature of the tmp Islands is 
hardly cooled down to the condensation point of vapor, it is easy 
to understand why the rains begin much later here than in Spain 
or Italy, and yet earlier than in France and Germany. Rain is 
rare on the sea-shore before the beginning of November and does 
not often continue later than to the end of March. In Italy this 
period of rain lasts from the first half of October to the middle 
of April. 
“ Especially Hyena and important for meteorological sci- 
ence,” continues L. von Buch, “is the way in which the north- 
east trade iad: is moved in winter by the southwest winds. 
These do not begin in the south and go towards the north, as 
would at first be imagined from their direction; but they reac 
