216 Dr James Hector on the Physical Features of the 
Il. From Daily Maxima and Minima Observations. 
Minima. 
Maxima. 
Highest. | Mean. | Lowest.| Mean. 
ture 
1858. January, . . ii oe ~ 29:5 ~3'3 i 
February, . vee ees ki be ee —3°2 re 
Marehy sc. ec ms 1:5 22° Aen 
APUG 9 ca is aa ps! 11°5 27°9 seis 
October; . . ves ae 18-5 26°2 We 
November, . §2° 34: — 2: 18°9 26°45 
«.s December; . 37°5 64 |-25- |-14: —7°6 
1859. January, . . 45° 20L oo g oe 9°55 
> Mebruary, « < 43-5 |. 136 |-—38 |=I11-1 1°25 
Marthy < ; 4.4°5 34:7 |— 6 11:4 | 23°05 
April, « « « 67° 41°8 0-0 2074 | 31-1 
MA ca Tn a 67° 58°6 at 37°2 | 47-9 
ce of Minima for Jan., Feb., March, and April 1858, . 21°°7 
Do. “ot do. 1859, . 9°38 
The climate of the prairies, and of the eastern slope of the 
Rocky Mountains, a district having a mean latitude of 53° N., 
differs in many respects from that of the Kastern Lake District, 
themean latitude of which is about48° N., although they possess 
nearly the same average temperature for the year. Thus, 
while the Canadian and Eastern climate is expressed by a 
low but steady winter curve of temperature, which is counter- 
acted in its effect upon the vegetation by a correspondingly 
high summer curve, the manner in which the more northern 
and equally continental climate of the Western Saskatchewan 
acquires the same average, is by rapidly succeeding irregu- 
larities and variations of temperature, according to the direc- 
tion of the dominant wind for the time. The influence exerted 
by those winds during the winter months was very clearly 
observed at Edmonton during the first part of the year 1858. 
They may be divided into three groups at this place :— 
1. The clear winds, that in winter bring the intense extremes 
of cold, and which blow from the north-west. In summer, this 
direction is exactly reversed, when it becomes a clear, hot, 
and dry wind. This may be considered as the proper conti- 
nental current, and is the wind of fine steady weather. It 
often only affects the lower stratum of the atmosphere, the 
