46 



remembrance, tbe mercuiy lias not yet touched zero. Fourteen inches r>f snow 

 fell during the month, against thirty-four last year, but on account of the unu- 

 sual warmth, the suow is now only two inches deep upon the level. Wagona 

 are univer.-?ally in use upon the public roads. Winter grain is suffering severe- 

 ly. Lake Champlain closed from Whitehall to Burlington on the 12th of the 

 month. Boats are, however, still running from that point to Plattsburg. Cham- 

 plain canal was closed on the 14th. Up to that time no insurmountable diffi- 

 culties had been presented to navigation by ice, but as the ordinary business of 

 the season had been finished, the water was drawn out by order of the canal 

 board. 



Moriches, N. Y. — December 11, 12, 13. — Numerous flocks of wild geese 

 were seen going southerly and southwesterly, more numerous than ever 

 previously noticed. ICth, ice on the ponds sufficient for skating. iJlst, at 4 or 

 5 a. m. the wind blew a gale out of the southeast, shifted round south, and then 

 southwest, and finally northwest; increased about noon, blowing up trees, and 

 doing considerable damage. At one time, looking down the river, the watei" 

 was seen to be lifted up as by a whirlwind, twenty feet or more. 



Palermo, N. Y. — December 21. — The most tedious day of the season; wind 

 blowing a gale. 



South Trenton, N. Y. — December was a very pleasant mouth ; no sleighing 

 of any consequence. It was the warmest December for some years. 



Hector, N. Y. — Dense dry fog on the 2d, 3d, and 4th. 



Pater son, N. J. — December 21. — A strong gale, varying between northwest 

 and west, all day. 



Burlington, iY. J. — December 0. — The first snow of the season. 



Greenwich, N. J. — December 3. — A real Indian summer day ; atmosphere 

 very hazy and smoky. 14th, first snow of the season. 26th, thermometer 

 rose all day; no wind; a fog almost unparalleled for dampness. 27th, very 

 warm; frost nearly out of the ground; Viola tricolor and Malva rotuiidifolia in 

 bloom in an open situation. A butterfly seen, and caterpillars crawling about. 



Newark, N. J. — All but four of the preceding twenty-two Decembers had 

 lower mean temperatures ; the exceptions being 1847, 1848, 1852, and 1857. 

 There were fogs of unusual density on the 26th and 27th. 



Trenton, N. J. — December 21. — Very high northwest wind, from 2 to 6 

 o'clock this afternoon. 



Haddonjicld, N. J. — December was variable, as usual, from warm and damp 

 to cool and bracing, with alternations of sunshine, fog, drizzle, rain, hail, and 

 snow. On the 4lli fires were uncomfortable, and insects awakened. Christmas 

 was damp and foggy, with some rain. The 27th was mild and spring-like, with 

 showers and warm afternoon ; no fires needed. 



Dyberry, Pa. — December 21. — Snow from 6 p. m. yesterday to 10 this morn- 

 ing ; depth over five inches, and drifted some. Many trees were blown down 

 to-day. 31st, no good sleighing yet. 



Byberry, Pa. — December 8. — Ground frozen. 9th, the first snow of the 

 season. 17th, ice three inches thick. 



Tioga, Pa. — December 3. — Diffuse lightning and thunder in the southwest at 

 7 p. m. 21st, very strong wind from the west last night ; unroofed some build- 

 ings, blew down chimneys, trees, &c. 22d, river closed by ice. 27th, ice 

 broken up in the river, and going down ; ice about eight inches thick. 



Fallsington, Pa. — December 31. — A very disagreeable mouth ; ponds, rivers, 

 and streams not frozen over, bad travelling, &c. 



Grampian Hills, Pa. — December has been rather remarkable for the large 

 proportion of favorable weather for out-door work, there having been no ex- 

 tremes of wet or cold, or deep suow ; the ground being most of the time 

 slightly covered with snow, the depth which fell during the month being thir- 

 teen inches; but that falling at seven different times, and one suow being prin- 



