GENEKAL FEATTJEES, ETC. 391 



west to the north of Brussels, and from the west in those parts of the country 

 which border upon Germany. 



Moisture-laden maritime winds predominating, Belgium is bathed almost 

 throughout the year in an atmosphere of vapour,* and fogs are frequent during 

 winter. The rainfall is considerable, amounting to about 30 inches in the west, 

 and increasing to the east of the Meuse with the elevation above the sea-level. f 

 Rainy days are numerous, but their number, as well as the amount of rain, differs 

 much from year to year, and whilst in 1854 it rained on 154 days at Brussels, in 

 1860 rain fell on no less than 244 days. The inhabitants are never able to 

 count upon a succession of fine days. September, as a rule, is the best month of 

 the year.J 



* Humidity at Brussels, 75 per cent, in June, 93 per cent, in December. 



t Annual rainfall :— Ghent, 30-6 in. ; Brussels, 28-0 in. ; Louvain, 28-4in. ; Liege, 29-5 in. ; Stavelot, 

 40-5 in. 



% At Brussels it annually rains on 197 days, snows on 25, hails on 10, in addition to wliich there are 

 60 foggy days. The number of cloudless days is only 12. 



