On the island of Cuba and on tho northern coasts of theaother Greater Antilles and in the Bahamas, the seasons are not so distinctly marked. Though fine weather prevails during the long dry season, it is fre quently interrupted by rain. It must however be observed that the heaviest rains fall in those months when the rainy season is at its height in the islands lying farther south. The quantity of rain which annually falls in the Greater Antilles is less than in those islands where the seasons are more regular. In the former it amounts to between 48 and 60 inches, and in the latter to 60 or 70 inches.
The mean annual temperature differs very little in places situated between the tropics. lu the West Indies it is about 78°. The greatest heat experienced at Puerto d'Espaha does not exceed 93°, or 15 degrees above the mean annual temperature. At the Havana the thermometer sometimes rises to 02°; but it sometimes descends as low as 45°, and in its vicinity ice is occasionally formed, after a long continuance of northerly winds in December or January. With this exception it is stated that no frost is experienced even on the summits of the high mountains of Cuba or Jamaica.
When the sun is in the southern hemisphere the Archipelago enjoys the full benefit of the trade-winds, blowing from north-east end east north-east, and diffusing over it a refreshing coolness. But when the sun has passed the equator, the trede-winds retire to the northward as far as 15' or 16' N. lat., and are replaced by south-eastern winds, which are warm and usually gentle; they continue to blow with diminishing force till June, when they are frequently interrupted by calms. During the long rains the wind blows from all the points of the compass, and frequently in very violent gusts. This is also the season of the hurri canes, which rarely occur in July, but generally in August or Septem ber. They are not experienced in Trinidad and Tobago, and are more frequent and destructive on the Lesser Antilles than in Jamaica or Cuba. In Cuba they usually occur in October. When the trade-winds are not strong, the heat is moderated by the daily alternation of the sea- and land-breezes, the first blowing by day and the land-breeze by night. The calms between the breezes are the hottest pert of the day, but they last only from one to two hours.
All the islands are subject to earthquakes; but they are not violent, except on the islands of volcanic formation, where they prove some times very destructive. The climate is considered healthy from November to June, but during the great rains various diseases, especially fevers, are prevalent.
The navicstion of the Archipelago is much affected by the currents which preyedl in the surrounding seas. The principal of these, the
Gulf Strean and the Guyana Current, aro noticed under Attearrio OCEAN. Another current prevails along the north-eastern edge of the Bahama Banks. It seta along the banks to the eantssouth-eaat, and varies much in strength according to the seasons. In the sea between this current and the Guyana Current the extraordinary phenomenon occurs which la called the ' Ground Sea; or in Jamaica the' North Sea.' it is a swell of the sea, to which the south-eastern Bahamas, the north-eastern coast of Jamaica and Hispaniola, but chiefly Puerto Rico and the Virgin Intends, and in a lees degree the northern Carib bee lelands,nrs pubject This heavy swell sets in generally in October and continues, though with some intermission, till April and May. During June, July, and August it appears only occasionally, and for a short time. It takes place when the air is calm, or even after the prevalence of light winds from the southward of coat. Tho sea approaches from the north the shores of the islands in undulating tnassea, which snddenly rise to large ridges crested with foam, and form billows which burst upon the beach with great impetuosity. The sea for many miles assumes a peculiar aspect. Different tints of blue, from the lightest to the darkest, form a strong contrast with the snowy foam of the breaking waves when they strike against the hidden ruck, oe with the white line which is visible along the whole cosritt.
The grains, plants, vegetables, and fruit-trees, which are cultivated either for the purpose of obtaining articles of export or as food, are enumerated in the articles on the several islands. The moat important prod ucta are smear, coffee, tobacco, indigo, cotton, ginger, cacao, manioc, maize, &c., vast quantities of delicious fruits and vegetables, and hard strong timber. The wild animals which existed on the Archi pelago when the Europeans first Arrived were—the agonti, peccary, racoon, alto, or native Indian dog, and the wild boar—are now all extinct or nearly so, with the exception of the wild hog, which is still common on moat islands. Monkeys are still found no several islands, and in Jamaica there is a smaller kind. Birds are numerous, and nearly all of them are fit for food. There are maccaws, parrots, wild guinea-fowls, quails, several species of wild-pigeons and partridges, snipes, wild-ducks, gray-ducks, teal, plovers, widgeons, mocking-birds, or nightingale., curlews, spoonbill., divers, herons, rails, and sand pipers. The most remarkable of the birds are the humming-bird and the carrion-crow : without the last-mentioned bird, it is said that these islands would hardly be habitable.