132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



many inland localities in England. At the beginning of the frost 

 Fieldfares and Redwings had been " more abundant " in Norfolk 

 than had been ever seen before [I have similar reports from many- 

 localities] ; but very soon dead and dying were picked up, and 

 finally all birds disappeared, except a few pet Robins, &c, near 

 the houses. 



By the 2ord of January it was reported that such snow had 

 not been known in Paris since 1861. It lay six inches deep 

 in the Boulevards, and 7000 men were engaged to sweep the 

 streets. * 



In Sutherland Rooks did not leave Tongue, but migrated every 

 day for food to Durness and Far-out-Head, a point of land which 

 runs out seaward, and, as Mr. John Crawford told me, was, he 

 believed, clear of snow. 



On the 25th of January Loch Lomond presented a wondrous 

 sight, and 15,000 people are said to have been skating and curling 

 upon it between Balloch and Inchmurrin (vide daily papers). 



Great mortality amongst the birds — game-birds and others — was 

 liow reported by gamekeepers ; and small birds were found frozen 

 to the branches of trees in Sutherland.! 



Lake Windermere was reported, on the 27th January, to be 

 frozen over a larger extent of its surface than can be remembered 

 since the very severe winter of 1854-55. . 



Great drifts of snow have been constantly occurring and 

 recurring in different parts of the North of Scotland, but princi- 

 pally on the Caithness line of railway. During the continuance 

 of the storm two men were employed always in carrying the mails 

 into the further districts of Sutherland and Caithness, as well as 

 of other parts of the Highlands. It was not considered safe for 

 one man to travel alone. 



The average temperature for 24 hours ending at 8 o'clock this 

 morning (27th Jan.) was 27° Fah. 



28th January, 1879. — Almost all bird-life has been annihilated 

 around Tain, in Ross-shire, by this date, as I am informed by Mr. 

 Thos. Mackenzie. 



29th January. — Gartmorn Dam, Alloa, has been bearing for 

 eight weeks — " unprecedented in the history of the present 

 generation" (Alloa Advertiser, 29th January, 1879). 



* Glasgow Evening Citizen, 27th January, 1879. 

 flbhl 



