OF EESTING. 821 



scorched crust, which appears indeed to be necessary 

 to their nature. But in the wet season these bulbs 

 are gradually reached by the rain ; they swell beneath 

 the earth ; and at last develope themselves so simulta- 

 neously that the arid plains become at once the seat 

 of a charming verdure. Presently afterwards, myriads 

 of the gay flowers of the Iridacese and Mesembryan- 

 themums display their brilliant colours ; but in a few 

 weeks the verdure fades, the flowers disappear, hard 

 dry stalks alone remain; the hot sun of August, 

 when in those latitudes the days begin to lengthen, 

 completes the destruction of the few stragglers that 

 are left, the Karroo again sinks into aridity and deso- 

 lation, and the desert reappears. What succulents 

 survive are covered with a grey crust, and derive 

 their nourishment only from the air. In other parts 

 of the Cape of Good Hope the mean range of the 

 thermometer in winter is 48° to 93°, with cold rain, 

 while that of the summer is from 55° to 96°, with 

 dry days and damp nights. 



In the Canaries we have the season of growth from 

 November to March, when rains fall like those of 

 Europe, and the mean temperature is 66° ; and the 

 period of rest is April to October, when it never 

 rains, and the mean temperature is 73°. 



In Brazil the seasons are thus described by Mr. 

 Caldcleugh :—- " The summer begins about the months 

 of October or November, and lasts until March or 

 April. This is the wet season ; but the rains by no 

 means descend from morning till night, as in some 

 other tropical countries, but commence, generally, 



14* 



