IV. CLIMATE. 147 



Tlie prevailing winds are from south-west, and east or 

 north-east ; the former being damp and mild ; the latter 

 being diy and cold. In summer, the easterly winds fre- 

 quently blow from south-east instead of from north-east ; 

 and they are then warm winds. Perhaps, the most 

 marked peculiarity in the winds of Britain, by its effect 

 on the vegetation, is a customary prevalence of westerly 

 winds through much of the winter, succeeded by north- 

 easterly winds in spring. The growth of many herba- 

 ceous plants, and of the buds of trees, is thus prematurely 

 promoted, to be subsequently checked by the dry cold 

 W'inds of sj)ring. Injurious effects so induced are more 

 conspicuous among garden plants, which have been intro- 

 duced from dissimilar climates. But it is not unusual 

 for the oak-trees, ferns, and other native plants to be 

 severely damaged in spring by late frosts, consequent on 

 the clear sky at nights dming the period of vernal east 

 winds. 



10. Rain and Humidity. — The absolute quantity of 

 rain which falls, and the number of days on which some 

 rain falls, are both greater on the western side of the 

 island than on the eastern. The proportions are some- 

 where about 4 and 3, or perhaps nearer 3 and 2. For 

 the east and west the yearly average of rain has been 

 stated at 32 and 24 inches. The local variations are 

 very wide. According to the reports of various local 

 observers, some spots among the hills in the north-west 

 of England receive more than four times the amount of 

 rain-water, if compared with other spots in the vicinity of 

 London. Thus, according to the ' Tabular View ' pub- 

 lished by Mr. Joseph Atkinson, the fall of rain at 

 Esthwaite Lodge and Coniston Lodge, North Lanca- 

 shire, amounts to 8G and 8u inches annually ; while at 



