43 



NOTES OF THE WEATHER, DECEMBER, 1865. 

 [From the Sa ithsonian Institution ] 



A general smokiness in the atmosphere prevailed at the beginning of the month, 

 and there were two periods of severe cold — one about the 15th of the month, and 

 the other about a week later. 



Gardiner, Maine. — December 8. — River closed. 



Lisbon, Maijie. — December 7. — The storm, which was quite severe in Port- 

 land, Boston, and other places to-day, did not reach here, it being dull and 

 cloudy through the day, and a snow-squall, lasting but a few minutes, about 6 

 p. m., while in Portland it snowed from 8 a. m. to 6 p. m. 31st, the month of 

 December has been very mild and pleasant, and, although there has been sev- 

 enteen inches of snow during the month, there is but very little now on the 

 ground, and many bare places in the roads and open fields. The streams, 

 brooks, and wells are lower than common at this season of the year. 



West TVaterviUe, Maine. — December 8. — Pond froze over slightly last night 

 below the narrows. 9th, girls and boys skating to-day on the pond where, day 

 before yesterday, it was all open; froze hard last night. 12th, quite a large 

 flock of wild geese passed southerly this afternoon — an unusual occurrence here 

 so late in the season. 



Cornish, Maine. — December 25. — Fine sleighing ; snow nearly a foot deep. 

 December 27, snow nearly all gone ; a warm rain to-day. 



StandisJi, Maine. — December 20. — Snow began last night, and continued till 

 1.35 p. m. to-day. Squall at 3 p. m., accompanied with a violent northwest wind, 

 lasting till sunset; blew the snow almost all out of the road ; first sleighing this 

 morning. 25th, snowed from 10.50 a. m. to 3.15 p. m. yesterday; first good 

 sleighing this morning, but rather poor at night. 27th, sleighing all gone ; ice 

 broke up in the lake in the night. 31st, the lake and rivers are very low. Se- 

 bago lake is said to be two feet lower than it generally is at this time of the 

 year, and the swamps are very low; snow in the woods is about eight inches 

 deep. 



Webster, Maine. — December 3. — The air for the past three days has been 

 very quiet, and there is now almost a perfect calm. The sun has been of a red 

 color during the day, and the moon M'as red at rising. 



Stratford, New Hampsliire. — December 10. — All the streams quite low, and 

 some entirely dry; others so little water that they are frozen up. 21st, snow- 

 storm from the east, blowing almost a gale until noon ; calm about an hour, and 

 then blew as hard, or harder, from the northwest and west for nine hours. 31st, 

 it is the driest December in this place for thirty years, and how much longer the 

 observer does not know. 



Clarcmont, New Hamfslure — December has been a very moderate, comfort- 

 able month. Several light snows have fallen, making tolerable sleighing for 

 light teams. Ice six inches thick in Sugar river on the 18th of December ; 

 broke up on the 28th. Streams and ponds are very low, except where the 

 former are filled with snow-water. There is danger of a serious lack of water 

 for manufacturing purposes during the winter. 



SheJburne, New Hampsliire. — December 5 and 6 — No frost in the ground ; 

 good ploughing. 7th, ground frozen hard, 8th, Androscoggin river closed. 

 9th, people cross on the ice. 2l8t, snow is six inches deep ; good sleighing; the 

 first since the 21st of November. 27th, occasional hot breezes in the afternoon 

 from the southwest ; thermometer, at 2 45 p. m., 62°. 



Lunenburg, Ver7nont. — There have been only three or four days of sleighing 

 this month, which is very remarkable. There is now (December 31) but a little 

 more than half an inch of snow, which, as the roads are smooth, allows of 

 sleighs being run, and it is very good wheeling also. Springs are low, and the 



