98 Weather at Pfiilipsburg, Pennsylvania ; 



shall limit my notices to such circumstances as were most 

 characteristic of the year which is now [Dec. 10. 1832] about 



iP tBNPUMfP- nl .yab bloo ^nibosoxs nA .rhVS .ml 

 link kw?$te$e$dh3it our winter set in with unusual severity, 

 in the middle of November, 1831, when the cold north-west 

 snow storms were severely felt by both men and animals. 

 On the 28th, a large bear was killed in this neighbourhood, 

 which had not retired to his winter quarters. I observed a 

 woodcock on the 30th. This month, and all December, 

 were characterised by a succession of gales and snow storms 

 from the north-west, accompanied by severe cold, reaching to 

 9° below zero in the third week in December. The, barome- 

 trical fluctuations at this time may be worth noticing. 



During the gales, and for twenty-four to thirty-six hours 

 preceding them, the mercury generally descended to.^fe^Qt 

 Mi-Mlh wW» ^eica;a>,iHterv.aJ% ( remrn^JlO %$%&*&* 

 bn JtyM> -grlP»9oilflfefi!89fe»«fcite^ri; ilZtkb^fym-, gale; 

 i&#> effi ijtiiirfgtoa \M& and 28th, Mi in*cgpl&ifln(Jj$*wtar 

 storms. 1832, Jan. 3d, 29*4 in., frost ; 6th, 28'9 in., thaw. 



During the first part of winter, the ground remained covered 

 with snow of an average depth of about 2 ft.; and even deeper 

 in the forests, where the sun's rays had little influence, i 



In some warm water-springs near my residence, I frequently 

 noticed frogs, large tadpoles, and lizards, in a state of activity. 

 In clearing away stones in a quarry, the winter habitations of 

 myriads of mosquitoes were disturbed. These insects enter 

 the fissures of the stone at the fall. of the year, but cannot 

 penetrate far enough to be beyond the influence of frost. 



Jan. 14th to 21st. After two months of unusual severity, the 

 frost moderated ; and a thaw commenced, and lasted a week. 

 The thermometer, on the 14th, stood at 54° in the shade; 

 and in the sun, against a building, rose to 84° at noon. At 

 Philadelphia, it reached 60° in the shade. The waters, so 

 long consolidated in ice and snow, now descended rapidly 

 from the mountains, and covered the Beaver Dams, forming 

 our "first freshet." Observed one of the large black and red 

 hairy caterpillars crawling in the road. This species is the 

 latest to conceal itself in autumn. Some scarlet cardinal birds 

 previously appeared on the 12th ; and the ravens and crows, 

 enjoying the genial return to a mild temperature, were loudly 

 croaking in the neighbourhood of the settlements. The red 

 and the great black squirrels resumed their wonted activity 

 among the lofty pines; the harsh scream or cry of the ground 

 squirrels was occasionally heard, and was probably uttered to 

 attract their mates ; while the persevering tribe of woodpeckers 

 made the woods resound with their incessant hammering on 



