318 THAWS. 



people's beds foi several nights ; that meat was so 

 hard frozen that it could not be spitted, and could 

 not be secured but in cellars ; that several redwings 

 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*. 



On the third of January, Benjamin Martin's ther- 

 mometer, within doors, in a close parlour where 

 there was no fire, fell in the night to 20, and on the 

 fourth to 1 8, and on the seventh to 1 7, 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 ; and yet on the eighth, 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 circum- 

 stance, 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 ten degrees ; and 

 a clear sky shall again compel it to descend to its 

 former gage. 



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 



* See Letter LXIII., to Thomas Pennant, Esq. 



