48 



the 3(1 very heavy rain. From 5 to 6 p. m. of the 3d the rain was attended 

 with lightning and heavy thunder, which, however, did not cause the smoke to 

 disappear. 



Norwalk, Ohio. — December 3. — Thunder and lightning from the northwest. 

 Lansing, Michigan. — December was a very dry month ; wells, cisterns, and 

 springs nearly dry. 



Homestead, Michigan. — December 25. — Wild geese flying south this morn- 

 inii" ; some remained on open water all last winter. 31, the month has been 

 mild for most of the time, and now Traverse bay and all the large rivers are 

 open. Six vessels came to Manistee on the 15th to load with lumb .r. 



Vtvay, Indiana. — December 20 — A violent gale began from the northward 

 at 7 p. m., and continued nearly all night. At 7.30 p. m. the thermometer indi- 

 cated 40^ ; at 7 a. m. of the 21st 10^. 25th, depth of frost in the ground two 

 and a half inches in soft soil, and in hard clay two inches. 31 st, the month 

 has been unusually cloudy ; there has not been one entire clear day. 



Spiccland, Indiana. — Sky very smoky and dusty; sun exceedingly red in 

 the morning and evening. 20th, at 7 p. m. wind blew iip quite fresh from the 

 west. A yellow bright light shone a few minutes about sunset ; it appeared 

 uniform over the whole concave above the horizon. 22, at 9 p. m. the barom- 

 eter the highest that has been observed in four yeai'S ; it rose one inch and. fif- 

 teen-hundredths in fifty-one hours. 



RicJunond, Indiana. — December 1. — Weather pleasant ; green leaves still on 

 rose bushes and on the tops of some apple trees ; ground very dry for the 

 season. 16th, ice six and a half inches thick on some ponds. 22d, the barom- 

 eter the highest it has been this year. A little fine snow fell on the 7th, and 

 an inch and a half on the 19th ; ground not entirely covered at any time during 

 the month. 



Winnehngo, Illinois. — December 12. — Ground frozen ; ploughing suspended ; 

 Eock river closed at Rockford. 



Aurora, Illinois. — December 3. — Atmosphere smoky, with but very little 

 wind. 



Waverhj, Illinois. — December 30. — First flock of wild geese noticed going 

 north. 



Rihy, Illinois. — December 1 to 4. — Smoky. 11th, ground frozen solid. 

 15th, ice six inches thick on the creek. 



iSjrring/ield, Illinois. — Smoky Indian summer weather in the beginning of 

 the month. 



Otfawa, Illinois. — December 1. — Smoky throughout the day. 2d, a fine 

 Indian summer day. 3d, rain and smoke so dense that from 2 p. m until night- 

 fall the darkness was like evening twilight. 5th, ice two and a half inches 

 thick. 13th, Fox river frozen over for the first time this season. 



Tiskilwa, Illinois. — December 31. — The thermometer was below zero on 

 four mornings. The greater portion of the month was very fine working weather 

 for all out-door work. There has been but little snow ; ground about half covered 

 in open fields, about all covered in the woods. 



Sandwich, Illinois. — There was an unusual display of parhelia during the 

 month, as well as solar and lunar haloes. [This was the case at a number of 

 stations in different States.] 



Golconda, Illinois. — ^We have not had a particle of snow here this winter yet 

 (January 14.) 



St Louis, Missouri. — December 2 and 3. Atmosphere hazy. — 16th, the Mis- 

 sissippi river was gorged with ice yesterday ; to-day the gorge broke above the 

 city, and the floating ice destroyed seven or eight steamers at the city landing. 

 17tli, the river is gorged again, and people cross on the ice opposite the city. 



Athens, j\iis.souri. — This has been a very dry month; no rain and only seven 

 and a half inches of very dry snow. 



