A. Because, as they come over the _vast continents_ of Asia and Europe, they absorb _very little water_. Q. _Why does their imbibing so little water make them DRY winds?_ A. Being thirsty when they reach our island, they readily imbibe moisture from the air and clouds; and, therefore, _bring dry weather_. Q. _Why is the NORTH WIND in England generally COLD?_ A. The north wind comes from the _polar regions_, over mountains of snow, and seas of ice; in consequence of which, it is very _cold_. Q. _Why are NORTH WINDS in England generally DRY and biting?_ A. As they come from regions _colder than our own_, they are _warmed by the heat of our island_; and (as their temperature is raised) _they absorb moisture_ from every thing they touch; in consequence of which, they are both _dry and parching_. Q. _Why is the SOUTH WIND generally WARM in England?_ A. The south wind comes over the hot sandy deserts of Africa, and is heated by the land it traverses. Q. _Why does the SOUTH WIND often bring us RAIN?_ A. The south wind (being much _heated_ by the hot sands of Africa) _imbibes water very plentifully_, as it passes over the Mediterranean Sea and British Channel. Q. _Why does the SATURATION of the south wind cause RAIN?_ A. As soon as it reaches our cold climate, _it is condensed_, and its vapour is squeezed out (as water from a wet sponge). Q. _Why are WEST WINDS in England generally RAINY?_ A. The west winds come over the _Atlantic Ocean_, and are laden with _vapour_: if, therefore, they meet with the least _chill_, some of the vapour is squeezed out. Q. _Why is a fine CLEAR DAY sometimes OVERCAST in a few minutes?_ A. Because some _sudden change of temperature_ has condensed the vapour of the air _into clouds_. Q. _Why are CLOUDS sometimes DISSIPATED quite as suddenly?_ A. Because some _dry wind_ (blowing over the clouds) has _imbibed their moisture_, and carried it off in invisible vapour. Q. _Why does a SOUTH-WEST wind bring us RAIN?_ A. As it comes from the _torrid zone_, and _crosses the ocean_, the hot wind is _laden with vapour_; and as some of the heat escapes (as soon as it reaches our northern island) the _vapour is condensed_, and precipitated as rain. Q. _Why does a NORTH-EAST wind RARELY bring RAIN?_ A. As it comes from a climate _colder than our own_, its capacity for imbibing vapour is _increased_ when it reaches our island; in consequence of which, it _dries the air_, dispels the clouds, and promotes evaporation. Q. _Why does WIND sometimes bring RAIN, and sometimes FINE weather?_ A. If the wind be _colder than the clouds_, it will condense their vapour into _rain_: if the wind be _warmer than the clouds_, it will _dissolve_ them, and cause them to disappear. Q. _Why are MARCH winds DRY?_ A. Because they generally blow from the east or north-east; and, therefore, _sweep over the continent of Europe_. Q. _What is the USE of MARCH winds?_