60 



That every alternate winter is a mild one, and each intervening 

 winter is a steady cold one, is proved by the following observations, 

 taken from my diary : 



1876 . 



The winter of 1875-76 was a very mild one ; but little snow fell, 

 and we did not use the sleigh once during the entire winter. 



1877 . 



Steady cold weather from the first of last December to the latter 

 part of January. 



Jan. 27— Begins to thaw, 



Jan. 29 — A shower of rain — the first this year. 



March 2 — A snow-storm ; snow about four inches deep on the level. 



March 16. — A heavy snow-storm ; plenty of snow-drifts three feet 

 high. 



March 31 — A rain-storm ; snow nearly gone. 



1878 . 



The winter of 1877-78 was a very mild one ; there was not enough 

 snow to make good sleighing up to the latter part of January. The 

 week before Christmas many small moths were flying about, and I 

 frequently saw Hedgehog Caterpillars {Pyrrarctia Isabella, Smith) 

 crawling about. 



Jan. 3i — A snow-storm. 



Feb. 1 — Snow-storm ; about six inches deep. 



Feb. 19 — A rain-storm. 



Feb. 21 — A rain-storm; snow nearly gone. 



187 9. 



Steady cold weather from the middle of last December to the 

 latter part of January; during this period there were scarcely six 

 warm days. The snow was about eighteen inches deep on the level, 

 and during the first week in January the temperature fell to twenty 

 degrees below zero. 



Jan. 27 — A rain-storm. 



1880. 



Last December some snow fell, but not enough to make good 

 sleighing; during the first week in January there came a heavy 

 rain-storm, which soon melted all of the snow and drew the frost 

 entirely out of the ground. 



1881. 



Steady cold weather from the latter part of last November to the 

 7th of February, when there came a rain-storm ; between these dates 

 there were scarcely two thawing days. There was some snow during 

 the greater part of the winter, but not enough to make good sleigh- 

 ing up to the middle of January, when enough fell for this purpose. 

 This lasted until the 8th of February, when it was spoiled by the 

 rain. 



