In Ceylon the proverbial fickleness of the winds, and the uncertainty which characterises the seasons in northern climates, is comparatively unknown; and the occurrence of changes or rain may be anticipated with considerable accuracy in any month of a coming year.  There are, of course, abnormal seasons with higher ranges of temperature, heavier rains, or droughts of longer continuance, but such extremes are exceptional and rare.  Great atmospheric changes occur only at two opposite periods of the year, and so gradual is their approach that the climate is monotonous, and one longs to see again “the falling of the leaf” to diversify the sameness of perennial verdure.  The line is faint which divides the seasons.  No period of the year is divested of its seed-time and its harvest in some part of the island; and fruit hangs ripe on the same branches that are garlanded with opening buds.  But as every plant has its own period for the production of its flowers and fruit, each month is characterised by its own peculiar flora.

As regards the foliage of the trees, it might be expected that the variety of tints would be wanting which forms the charm of a European landscape, and that all nature would wear one mantle of unchanging green.  But it has been remarked by a tasteful observer[1] that such is far from the fact, and though in Ceylon there is no revolution of seasons, the change of leaf on the same plant exhibits colours as bright as those which tinge the autumnal woods of America.  It is not the decaying leaves, but the fresh shoots, which exhibit these brightened colours, the older are still vividly green, whilst the young are bursting forth; and the extremities of the branches present tufts of pale yellow, pink, crimson, and purple, which give them at a distance the appearance of a cluster of flowers.[2]

[Footnote 1:  Prof.  Harvey, Trin.  Coll.  Dublin.]

[Footnote 2:  Some few trees, such as the margosa (Azadirachta Indica), the country almond (Terminalia catappa), and others, are deciduous, and part with their leaves.  The cinnamon shoots forth in all shades from bright yellow to dark crimson.  The maella (Olax Zeylanica) has always a copper colour; and the ironwood trees of the interior have a perfect blaze of young crimson leaves, as brilliant as flowers.  The lovi-lovi (Flacourtia inermis) has the same peculiarity; while the large bracts of the mussaenda (Mussaenda frondosa) attract the notice of Europeans for their angular whiteness.]

A notice of the variations exhibited by the weather at Colombo may serve as an index to the atmospheric condition of the rest of the island, except in those portions (such as the mountains of the interior, and the low plains of the northern extremity) which exhibit modifications of temperature and moisture incident to local peculiarities.

[Sidenote: 
Wind N.E. 
Temperature, 24 hours: 
  Mean greatest 85.6 deg
  Mean least 69.2 deg
Rain (inches) 3.1]