470 The Natural History of Selborne 



degrees. The first notices of thaws often seem to appear in 

 vaults, cellars, &c. 



If a frost happens, even when the ground is considerably 

 dry, as soon as a thaw takes place, the paths and fields are all 

 in a batter. Country people say that the frost draws moisture. 

 But the true philosophy is, that the steam and vapours con- 

 tinually ascending from the earth, are bound in by the frost, 

 and not suffered to escape till released by the thaw. No 

 wonder then that the surface is all in a float ; since the 

 quantity of moisture by evaporation that arises daily from 

 every acre of ground is astonishing. WHITE. 



FROZEN SLEET. 



JANUARY 20. Mr. H.'s man says that he caught this day in 

 a lane near Hackwood park, many rooks, which, attempting 

 to fly, fell from the trees with their wings frozen together by 

 the sleet, that froze as it fell. There were, he affirms, many 

 dozen so disabled. WHITE. 



MIST, CALLED LONDON SMOKE. 



THIS is a blue mist which has somewhat the smell of coal 

 smoke, and as it always comes to us with a N. E. wind, is sup- 

 posed to come from London. It has a strong smell, and 

 is supposed to occasion blights. When such mists appear 

 they are usually followed by dry weather. WHITE. 



REFLECTION OF FOG. 



WHEN people walk in a deep white fog by night with a 

 lanthorn, if they will turn their backs to the light, they will 

 see their shades impressed on the fog in rude gigantic propor- 

 tions. This phenomenon seems not to have been attended to, 

 but implies the great density of the meteor at that juncture. 

 WHITE. 



