226 CLIMATOLOGY. 



cucumber and melon vines ; forest trees change their hue, and 

 potatoes are dug and stored for winter use. 



The forest assumes a variety of autumnal hues in the be- 

 ginning of October ; about the middle of the month, many- 

 flocks of geese and ducks pass to the southward, and their ap- 

 pearance precedes a series of cold weather, which strips the 

 leaves from the trees. A fall of snow usually occurs about 

 the 25th. 



November is generally calm and pleasant, and about three 

 weeks of peculiar weather, named the " Indian summer," oc- 

 curs. It is characterised by a fog or haze rising from the earth, 

 through which the sun is seen obscurely, and there is little or 

 no wind. In December, the thermometer sinks a few degrees 

 below zero, and much snow falls. The harbour freezes in the 

 beginning of the month. In January, the thermometer sinks 

 20 degrees below zero, and rarely to — 32°. The snow attains a 

 depth of three feet in the woods, but the ground it covers is 

 not frozen. A great fall of snow takes place in February, and 

 there is usually a temporary thaw about the end of the month, 

 accompanied by heavy rain, and occasionally by thunder. 



Phenomena indicating the Progress of the Seasons at 

 Michipicoten, Lake Superior*', in the gear 1840. 



Jan. 19. Open water in the bay. Mergansers frequenting it. 



Feb. 14. Bay again closed by ice. 



March 8. Snow birds departed for the north. 26th. The snow 



birds returned again, the weather having been 



severe. Domestic hens began to lay eggs. Two 



ducks seen. 

 April 10. Lake clear of ice in Michipicoten Bay. 12th. Turdus 



migratorius came. 

 May 2. All the snow gone. 6th. Swallows came. 22nd. 



Potatoes planted. 

 Sept. 4. Small trout collecting in the rivulets to spawn. On 



* By chief factor George Keith, Esq. 



