DISTBIBIJTIOIf OF THE RAIXPAIL. 281 



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

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



"The Mediterranean regiTne, thus characterised, clears the Appennines 

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

 to Parma and to GuastaUa ; but already at Bol(^ne, and in the 

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

 Yvree, the northern regime is again found charauiterised 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 Isfere, 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 Toumon (Ardfeche). 

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

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

 which it passes the confluence of the Isfere.'' 



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 18-53 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, GJenes 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, 

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

 con 1305. 



And iL 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 differences between different 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 Briancon to Die 



(Drdme) and from Barcelonnette to R^usse (Var). 



2h 



