18 
NOTES ON THE CLIMATE OF VICTORIA. 
liave yet been made, to follow ap]>roximately the same variations 
as have been observed in other countries. During the hot, dry 
winds prevalent here in summer months, and the dust storms tliat 
often accompany them, negative electricity iirevails ; this is also 
generally the case during heavy rains, frequently to a large degi'ee. 
Positive electricity is usually observed as tlie wind springs iqi and 
increases after calm weather, and especially when the wind comes 
from the S. or S.W. 
iUthough a. moderately precise conception of the climate of this 
colony may be obtained from the foregoing remarks, there will yet 
remain much that modifies a climate, even to a large extent, which 
cannot be exju’essed in taffies, or directly deduced from discussion 
of the vai-ious meteorological elements. A brief descri]ition, there- 
fore, of a cycle of the seasons will, in connection with the tables 
already given, enable the reader to form a moderately correct idea 
of the climate of Victoria. 
The spring season, which may be said to include Se]itember, 
October, and November, generally sets in about the beginning of 
September ; dining which month, although slight frosts sometimes 
occur, the weather is usually mild and often quite warm. Pather 
above the monthly average of rain also freij^uently falls. Strong 
northerly and westerly winds a, re prevalent in September and 
October, but the currents of air, both as regards frequency and 
velocity, seem to be more equally distributed during these months 
than at other parts of the year. The northerly winds begin to 
assume the dry and warm condition which characteiises them 
throughout the summer months, and it is not at all unfrequent 
that quite a hot wind may prevail for a short period even in 
October; the weather generally, however, in September and 
October, is genial and |ficasant. November, also representing 
the height of spring, is usually characterised by fine, wann, and 
sometimes even hot weather. It is not at all unusual to get a large 
rainfall in October or November, sometimes giving rise to exten- 
sive fioods; in some seasons, lunvever, the rainfall after the com- 
mencement of October diminishes considerably, and frequent 
dry, and even hot, northerly winds in November parch the grass 
and othei' herbage, giving to the plains and hills a sand-like 
appearance; but in others the pastures remain green till January, 
and in many parts of the colony throughout the year. 
The summer season includes the months of December, J anuary, 
and February. December is often marked by veiy changeable 
weather, and although generally hot and dry, it is not unfrequently 
broken uj) liy cold and stormy intervals, with heavy rains, and 
gales of wind. The northerly winds become more or less hot ac- 
cording to the amount and distribution of the rainfall throughout 
the interior during spring. Veiy great changes of tcmyicrature 
