NOTES ON THE CLIMATE OF VICTORIA. 
15 
By selecting Melbourne as the locality in wliicli the most ex- 
tended series of observations have been obtained, we remark that 
in the years 184*8, 184*9, and in 1803, the rainfall was far above 
the average ; in 1864, 1805, 1806, and 1870 it fell below the 
average, especially 1805, when it only I'eached 15*9 inches. In 
1848 and 1849 extensive and destructive floods occurred, and 
again in 1803; in 1805 and 1860 the country suffered from a 
severe drought; and the year 1851, following the heavy rains of 
1849, was also a dry one, althougli the amount of rainfall, if ever 
observed, cannot yet be ascertained. An opinion has often been 
expressed that there is a periodicity in the excessive rainfiills and 
droughts in Australia generally ; but altliough the above results 
may give some slight grounds for this supposition, a far gi'eater 
number of years’ observations will be necessary from which to 
deduce any law of this kind. 
WINDS. 
The alternation of tlie polar and equatorial cuiTents of air con- 
stitutes the main feature of tlie prevalent winds, modified, of 
course, in the various localities by the physical features, and by 
their situation with regard to the mountain system. From dis- 
cussion of the Melbourne observations, it seems evident the 
northerly winds have the ascendancy botli in frequency and force, 
more especially during the winter months. S. and S,W. winds 
come next in force, and, generally speaking, in frequency also. 
Tlie following tables give the results of frequency and A^clocity 
of the different winds for each month, as deduced from the records 
of the self-i’egistering anemometei*, and also the percentage of 
hours during which the wind has blown from different points of 
the compass. 
