59. 



Dcccmher 24. — Roxbury, Massachusetts. There is now splendid skating at 

 the Washington skating park in Roxbuiy. The pond is filled with pure brook 

 water, and is several acres in extent. Portions of Jamaica pond are also frozen 

 so as to afifbrd good skating. — Newspaper. 



December 25. — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Schuylkill river below the 

 dam was closed by ice; entirely open again on the 27th. 



Deceynber 29. — Pictou, Nova Scotia. The harbor is now closed with ice. — 

 Newspaper. 



December 31. — Lunenburg, Vermont. Ground frozen one to two feet deep. 

 Ice on ponds about two feet thick. 



December 31. — Xew Bedford, Massachusetts. River and harbor free of ice 

 through the month. A slight scum remained partially a day or two above the 

 bridge about the 23d. 



December 31. — South Trenton, New York. Ground frozen a foot and a half 

 deep. Ground hard frozen all this month ; cellars badly frosted, and many 

 vegetables lost. 



METEORS AND SHOOTING STARS. 



December 2. — South Hartford, New York. At 21 minutes past 9 observed 

 two shooting stars, starting from constellation Leo, falling NW., and disappear- 

 ing, say, at five degrees above the horizon, 



December 2. — Kingston, Ohio. This evening about 8^ o'clock a fine meteor 

 appeared in the northwest. 



Dece?nber 4. — Oil City, Pennsylvania. Shooting star at 7 p. m. in the south- 

 west. 



December 5. — Columbia, Connecticut. Mr. Yeomans describes a meteor seen 

 by him about 6J or 7 o'clock p. m. while riding towards home. It first ap- 

 peared about five degrees south of east, and about fifteen degrees above the ho- 

 rizon, moving towards the east. It was so brilliant as to cast shadows, and its 

 diameter was at least one-eighth that of the full moon. Its path was a curve, 

 and the distance traversed was about twenty degrees, leaving a bright trail 

 about five degrees in length. The time of passage was less than a minute, and 

 finally it burst like a rocket about five degrees above the horizon, scattering 

 fi'agments in every direction. 



Deceviher 5. — Rockville, Indiana. Two meteors or shooting stars seen at 9 p. 

 m. moving south. 



Decejnber 5. — Fort RUey, Kansas. Meteor or shooting star in the southwest 

 at 7^ p. m., falling in a westerly direction. 



December 6. — Oil City, Pennsylvania. Shooting star in the southeast at 



8 p. m. 



December 8. — Oil City, Pennsylvania. Shooting star in the northeast at 8 

 p.m. 



December 9. — South Trenton, New York. Shooting star in the west ; long 

 tail similar to a rocket. 



December 23. — South Trenton, New York. At 11.20 p. m. a meteor fell from 

 the vicinity of the Pleiades, seemingly directed towards the earth for some dis- 

 tance, then made an angle south enlarging, then appeared to explode into 

 atoms. 



December 29. — Cardington, Ohio. At 7.20 p. m. a shooting star from north- 

 east to southwest passed through Ursa Minor, near the pole star, very bright. 



9 p. m., a shooting star in east, very dim ; 9.25 p. m., shooting star, very large, 

 bright and beautiful, leaving a long train of light ; was of about two seconds 

 duration ; passed from Orion south to the horizon. 



December 29. — Fort Riley, Kansas. Meteor or shooting star in the south at 

 8 p. m. 



