NATLRAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 275 



subjects them afterwards to inconveniences when rigorous weather 

 returns. 



The coincidents attending this short but intense frost were, that 

 the horses fell sick with an epidemic distemper, which injured the 

 winds of many, and killed some ; that colds and coughs were 

 general among the human species ; that it froze under people's 

 beds for several nights ; that meat was so hard frozen that it 

 could not be spitted, and could not be secured but in cellars ; 

 that several red-wings and thrushes were killed by the frost ; and 

 that the large titmouse continued to pull straws lengthwise from 

 the eaves of thatched houses and barns in a most adroit manner, 

 for a purpose that has been explained already. 1 



On the 3rd January, Benjamin Martin's thermometer within 

 doors, in a close parlour where there was no fire, fell in the night 

 to 20, and on the 4th, to 18, and on the yth, to 174, a degree 

 of cold which the owner never since saw in the same situation ; 

 and he regrets much that he was not able at that juncture to 

 attend his instrument abroad. All this time the wind continued 

 north and north-east j and yet on the 8ih roost-cocks, which had 

 been silent, began to sound their clarions, and crows to clamour, 

 as prognostic of milder weather ; and, moreover, moles began to 

 heave and work, and a manifest thaw took place. From the 

 latter circumstance we may conclude that thaws often originate 

 under ground from warm vapours which arise ; else how should 

 subterraneous animals receive such early intimations of their 

 approach ? Moreover, we have often observed that cold seems to 

 descend from above ; for, when a thermometer hangs abroad in a 

 frosty night, the intervention of a cloud shall immediately raise the 

 mercury 10; and a clear sky shall again compel it to descend to 

 its former guage. 



And here it may be proper to observe, on what has been said 

 above, that though frosts advance to their utmost severity by 

 somewhat of a regular gradation, yet thaws do not usually come 

 on by as regular a declension of cold ; but often take place imme- 

 diately from intense freezing ; as men in sickness often mend at 

 once from a paroxysm. 



To the great credit of Portugal laurels and American junipers, 



18 



