480 The Natural History of Selborne 



began with hard frost, and continued throughout with alternate 

 frost and thaw. The first part of December frosty : the latter 

 part mild. 



1783. To January 16, rainy with heavy winds. To the 

 24th, hard frost. To the end of the first fortnight in 

 February, blowing, with much rain. To the end of February, 

 stormy dripping weather. To the gth of May, cold harsh 

 winds (thick ice on 5th of May). To the end of August, hot 

 weather, with frequent showers. To the 23rd September, 

 mild, with heavy driving rains. To November 12, dry mild 

 weather. To the i8th December, grey soft weather, with a 

 few showers. To the end of the year hard frost. 



1784. To February 19, hard frost, with two thaws; one 

 the 1 4th January, the other 5th February. To February 28, 

 mild wet fogs. To the 3rd March, frost with ice. To 

 March 10, sleet and snow. To April i, snow and hard 

 frost. To April 27, mild weather, with much rain. To 

 May 12, cold drying winds. To May 20, hot cloudless 

 weather. To June 27, warm with frequent showers. To 

 July 1 8, hot and dry. To the end of August, warm with 

 heavy rains. To November 6, clear mild autumnal weather, 

 except a few days of rain at the latter end of September. To 

 the end of the year, fog, rain, and hard frost (on December 10, 

 the thermometer i degree below o). 



1785. A thaw began on the 2nd January, and rainy 

 weather with wind continued to January 28. To 1 5th March, 

 very hard frost. To 2ist March, mild, with sprinkling 

 showers. To April 7, hard frost. To May 17, mild windy 

 weather, without a drop of rain. To the end of May, cold, 

 with a few showers. To June 9, mild weather, with frequent 

 soft showers. To July 13, hot dry weather, with a few 

 showery intervals. To July 22, heavy rain. To the end of 

 September, warm with frequent showers. To the end of 

 October frequent rain. To i8th of November, dry, mild 

 weather. (Haymaking finished November 9, and the wheat 

 harvest November 14.) To December 23, rain. To the 

 end of the year, hard frost. 



