20 
NOTES ON THE CLIMATE OF VICTORIA. 
Tlie worst vicissitude to wliicli the climate of Victoria is subject, 
in common with Australia generally, is the occasion^ droughts; 
these as already stated appear to follow those years characterised 
by unusual raiufall; a fact that lias given rise to a conjecture that 
botli the excessively wet and the excessively dry seasons are 
periodical. The last drought to whicli tlie colony was subject 
extended from the summer of 186.5 till almost the winter of 1866, 
and was doubtless due to the small rainfall in the autumn and 
spring months. 
