452 Effects of the Cold of the last Winter. 



more distinct and vividly contrasted than that of the female. 

 —lb.— July 25th, 1838. 



Effects of the excessive and protracted cold of the last 

 Winter. — One of the natural consequences of the severity 

 and long continuance of the frost, as well as the great depth 

 of the snow, was the extreme boldness and destructiveness of 

 the wolves, which killed great numbers of men and cattle, 

 made inroads into provinces where they had long been ex- 

 tirpated; nay, they penetrated even into populous cities. 



As early as the middle of January many of them made their 

 appearance in the neighbourhood of Stuttgart, either from 

 France or Switzerland ; they devoured a boy twelve years of 

 age, about five English miles from that city : but the eager- 

 ness with which they were persecuted put a stop to further 

 accidents. 



Numerous reports from all parts of Hungary assert that the 

 wolves, prowling about in packs, have destroyed great num- 

 bers of men and cattle. In the night of the 7th of February, 

 ten wolves forced their way into the barn of a peasant, in the 

 village of Lekenek, near Agram ; whence they were not dis- 

 lodged until they had severely wounded eight head of cattle. 



The eastern provinces of Prussia were much infested by the 

 wolves which crossed over the frozen rivers, from Poland. — 

 They met with a warm reception from the Prussian foresters, 

 which however did not hinder one of them from assailing a 

 horse in one of the busiest streets of Konigsberg, on the 27th 

 of February. The wolf was immediatly attacked, but suc- 

 ceeded in escaping from the city. 



Many species of birds were obliged to migrate to countries 

 or resort to localities, which, in general, are not visited by 

 them. Among those which poured in from the north, the 

 wild swans excited most attention in Germany. Their flight 

 extended all over that country and the Netherlands ; when, 

 however, they fell in with a river running northwards, they 

 followed its course ; thus they were observed all along the 

 Rhine, and in Switzerland, having been seen not only on the 

 lake of Constance, but also on those of Biel and Waldstadlen. 

 They were often so exhausted that several were caught alive 

 in different parts of Germany. 



About the end of January immense flocks of aquatic birds 

 particularly ducks of various species, arrived in the Departe- 

 ment des Landes, completely exhausted. Above 20,000 are 

 said to have been taken by the country people along the coast 

 of that district. W. Weissenborn. Weimar. 



