CLIMATE OF DARTMOOR. 
155 
giving place as it were to that peculiar mildness of 
air derived from maritime position, we witness 
similar indications among insects that are noticed 
with birds as above shewn. On the milder of these 
days—those particularly when the sun diffuses an 
enlivening and pleasant warmth, the common fly 
awakes, and enjoys in some sheltered spot the few 
hours of that brightness which broke its hyemal 
slumber. So early as February 10th, 1839, several 
bees were noticed abroad, under the same influence 
of unusual heat. Not uncommonly also, beetles 
and a variety of other insects which I cannot 
presume to name, come forth from their brumal 
retreats at the same early period. 
Dartmoor must unquestionably be considered as 
originating a climate of its own, and as affecting the 
South Hams in no inconsiderable manner. The 
temperature of this tract, though visited ordinarily 
by sea winds from south-west and south-east, is 
very far below that of the cultivated and more mari¬ 
time districts, and it does not seem yet decided by 
meteorologists whether we may attribute this to 
its barrenness and freedom from timber, or not, some 
declaring, that freeing a country of timber will ele¬ 
vate its temperature, and others affirming that this 
act has an opposite result. There is certainly one 
reason why we may anticipate an increased heat 
from the clearing of a district, for if the sun’s rays be 
intercepted by a large amount of timber and foliage, 
they cannot of course ameliorate the air circulating 
through the forest and about its neighbourhood. 
Without presuming to meddle further with this 
question, it may be sufficient for me to remark that 
the elevation of the Dartmoor district, its power of 
furnishing a deal of moisture, and its freedom from 
soil able to restore caloric to the air, are seemingly 
sufficient reasons why its temperature should be 
less than the surrounding lands. In periods when 
