498 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



c. — Temperature ; Frost, Ice, and Snoic. 



Frosts have been recorded only a few times during the whole 

 period of the history of the islands, and in those cases they have 

 been light and probably local. No great damage, even to tender 

 plants, has ever been recorded as caused by frosts. 



Governor Lefroy cites two authentic cases : Dec. 24, 1840, when 

 ice Avas formed in tubs, in low situations, "to the thickness of a half- 

 crown," and vegetation was considerably damaged, according to 

 some writers; and Feb. 21, 1878, when the thermometer on grass 

 registered 2 8°. 2 F. 



A few scattering flakes of snow have been seen in a few instances, 

 but so rarely that it is regarded as a remarkable event. On March 1, 

 1784, at St. George's, according to the Royal Gazette, "A light flight 

 of snow fell here. In a house the thermometer was as low as 48°, 

 out of doors 44°." One instance was in 1811 or 1812; another, 

 March 4, 1874. 



There is no evidence of any definite change in the climate since 

 the islands were first settled. Jourdan's description, in 1610, would 

 still apply very well : — 



" In August, September, and untill the end of October, wee had 

 very hot and pleasant weather, onely (as I say) thunder, lightning, 

 and many scattering showei's of Raine (which would passe swiftly 

 over, and yet fall with such force and darknesse for the time as if it 

 would never bee cleere againe) wee wanted not any: and of raine 

 more in Summer then in Winter, and in the beginning of December 

 wee had great store of hayle (the sharpe windes blowing Northerly) 

 but it continued not, and to say truth, it is wintry or summer 

 weather there, according as those North and North-west windes blow. 

 Much taste of this kind of Winter wee had ; for those cold windes 

 would suddenly alter the ayre : but when there was no breath of ■ 

 wind to bring the moyst ayre out of the Seas, from the North 

 and North-west, wee were rather weary of the heate, then pinched 

 with the extreamitie of cold: Yet the three Winter moneths, Decem- 

 ber, January, and February, the winds kept in those cold corners, 

 and indeed then it was heavy and melancholy being there, nor were 

 the winds more rough in March, then in the aforesaid moneths, and 

 yet even then would the Birds breed. I thinke they bredde there 

 most monethes in the yeere, in September, and at Christmasse I saw 

 young Birds,* and in Februarie, at which time the mornings are 

 there (as in May in England) fresh and sharpe." 



* The "cahows" bred in December and January according to all the early 

 accounts. 



