NOTES ON THE CLIMATE OF VICTORIA. 
19 
often take place in a few hours ; for instance, a warm north wind 
prevails in the morning, with a temjierature reaching as high as 
90° to 100°; a lull m the afternoon is quickly followed by a strong 
breeze from the S.W., and the temperature becomes reduced to 
65° or 60° in fifteen or twenty minutes. 
The highest mean temperature occims in January; February 
also is often characterised by great heat and chyness. It is during 
these months that the northerly winds become perfect siroccos 
for short periods, and if the spring has-been dry, extensive bush- 
fires occur on the plains and in the forests, giving rise to a con- 
siderable increase of temperature, and superadding to the already 
unpleasant state of things a smoky and lurid atmosphere over 
considerable areas in the vicinity. Although unpleasantly hot 
weather very frequently intervenes tlu’oughout the summer 
months, yet a large and often the largest portion of the weather 
is line and pleasant, with cool southerly or south-westeidy winds. 
The autumn season, including the months of March, April, and 
May, although subject to stormy weather, gales of wind, and large 
rainfall — especially in its earlier paid, and following the equinoxes 
—may nevertheless be called the most genial and beautiful portion 
of the year. It constitutes a second spring, for so soon as vege- 
tation receives the moisture it has thirsted for through the 
summer, the indigenous plants and trees put forth a giowth that 
often exceeds that of spring. The temperature on the whole 
maintains a moderate mean; the noidherly winds now become 
cooler, and solar radiation is considerably reduced ; heavy dews 
fall at night, and sometimes towards the end of this season fog 
occurs duiing the night and early morning in veiy calm weather. 
In April the mean temperature becomes 59°, and in May 53°. 
Winter includes June, July, and August. This season, though 
usually marked by frequent rain and strong windvS, es})ecially from 
the north, is in some years remarkably dry, with a small rainfall; 
the temperature does not reach its minimum till the middle of 
July and the beginning of August, and seldom in Melbourne falls 
much below freezing point. Ice and hoar-frost occur generally 
only on a very feAv occasions during the winter in the neighbour- 
hood of ^[elbourne, tlie fmaner sometimes attaining a quarter of 
an inch in tliickness. At highei- levels, however, frost and ice 
have been observed as early as May, and forms much more fre- 
quently during the winter months than at the lower levels; the 
highest mountain summits too are in most seasons seen to be 
clothed in snow by June, and sometimes even as early as the 
beginning of May. The strongest winds in winter are usually 
from the north, from which quarter it often blows witli great 
violence; wind from this direction is dry, and usually veiy cold 
at this season. 
