182 ON THE EFFECTS OF THE SEVERE FROST AND 



the low groimds, to nearly 16 inclies on high and exposed 

 localities, and to a still greater depth on hilh' lands and in the 

 valleys and gorges of the northern mountain ranges of Scotland, 

 The wind had, about the beginning of February, gone round to 

 the west, and on the 14th of that month a sudden rise of the 

 thermonietrical readings at most stations oave indications of the 

 long-wished for change to milder weather Ijeing at hand, when, 

 inifortunately, a sudden change of ^vind to the east again took 

 place, snow and sleet again drifted from heavy banks of clouds 

 across the face of the coimtry, and the hopes of an early spring 

 i)f the day before were as suddenly and as quickly blasted as 

 they had been previously entertained and excited. A heavy 

 snow-storm set in on the 15tli and 16th, more severe than had 

 before been experienced during the winter, and was accompanied 

 b}' remarkably low readings of the temperature. In many 

 instances the thermometer stood at zero on different nights 

 l)etween the 16th and 20th February. These nights being calm, 

 and the heavy snowfall continuing at brief intervals, the depth 

 attained was consideral)le, beinu: from 14 inches on low ^rounds 

 to 3 feet on o])en places at an altitude of 1100 feet above sea- 

 level in the Highlands. This heavy snow-storm was very gene- 

 ral over the wliole country, and continued undisturbed on wood 

 and field for al:)out ten days, during which the atmosphere was 

 clear and calm. A striking phenomenon noticed at this time, in 

 open situations, and wide straths like that stretching from Cor- 

 storphine, a few miles west of Edinburgh, as far as Broxburn and 

 I^phall, was tlie distinctness with which distant sounds were 

 carried and heard far off, such as vehicles travelling along distant 

 roads, trains, machinery in motion, and so forth. This same pecu- 

 liarity was observed in the winter of 1860-61, and was doubtless 

 due to the highly rarified condition of the atmosphere. Although 

 tlie friendly mantle of fleecy snow was of material assistance in 

 protecting vegetal )le life in its smaller forms of plants and 

 shrubs, and although the beauty of the fresh-fallen spotless 

 mantle on every twig and stein lent to the woodlands an un- 

 usually beautiful appearance, it was not without serious dis- 

 advantage ; for, in some instances, the injury done to forest trees, 

 such as old Scots fir, plane, beech, maple, oak, and birch, from 

 the heavy weight of superincund^ent snow on those of branching 

 or fiat heads, has been consideral)le. Mr ]Mackenzie, the intelli- 

 gent and obseivant land-steward at Murthly, in Perthshire, 

 reports regarding this branch of our subject, that in his quarter 

 " one wood on the estate, of several hundred acres in extent, is 

 almost a total wreck ; it is principally composed of Scots fir, 

 oak, l)irch, and larch, and a few spruces. Both the latter have 

 escaped. The crop is between fifty and sixty years old, an age 

 when Scots firs at high altitudes have generally broad tops. 



