174 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
E} Valle. Tails on the hillside were in many places washed away. 
Gullies were deepened considerably. Rained from about midnight 
till 10 a. M. of August 15. 
August 16. Light showers. 
August 21. Very heavy rain in El Valle. The heavy sheets of 
rain seemed to ascend one valley to the mountain top and retreat to 
ascend the other valley. The rain was very light on the surrounding 
hills. During the storm and immediately after it a continuous roar- 
ing sound arose from the valley. On investigation this proved to 
be the rapid falling of the water down the steep gulches. Farther 
down the small streams united and flowed into the ‘dry river bed. 
The two trails running for a distance of a mile from the foot of the 
mountain into the plaza at El Valle proved themselves to be veritable 
rivers. They were loosely paved with stones and were walled Ns 
each side so that they held in the water well. A half hour aftersthis 
rain the trails were still submerged, and uniting with the mver neat 
the plaza they formed a perfect torrent at least until 7.25 P. M. 
A very different factor from the rain is the heavy mist which almost 
constantly hangs above the mountain. About one third of the time 
the mountains above 600 meters are in the clouds. Very often from 
night until 6 or 7 a. m. the hills over 300 meters are in the clouds but 
they are never cloudy in the daytime except in case of stores.) = : 
clearing of the woods which everywhere seems to be inevitable, is ie 
on here slowly. Where previously all the vegetation was on ppné 
with moisture now for the most part conditions are much drier 
cause trees have been cut down thus allowing the sunlight : : ye 
In the preceding paragraphs it is seen that compared yee es 
tropical districts, Margarita has almost no rainfall. The eer 
in the summer season has a shower nearly every day. So has gut 
dad off the northeast coast of Venezuela. While my pees : 
mostly from the south side of the island, yet excursions made — 
Griego and that vicinity indicate that it is but slightly better fa at 
Although the island is desert-like in character yet from 
that it gets the northeast trades, a comfortable temperature MAY G: 
expected. My records average as follows: at 6 A. M., 29 d ces te 
at 1 Pp. M., the hottest, 32.4 degrees C. These records are ve is of 
Valle. Porlamar always seemed hotter than this. The cool en 
course on the mountain top at San Juan Mountain. ey This 
coolest is 25 degrees C., the single coldest record was 24.5 Us 
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