LETTER XXVI 



Gap in Correspondence Remarkable Frost in 1890-91 River 

 frozen over Skating Thickness of Ice Mortality amongst 

 Birds Character of the Frost Final Thaw Ice breaking up 

 on River Additions to Live Stock Ducks The Drake and 

 Rosie Pigs Pony Peter. 



i ith January 1892. 



DEAR MARCO ^The gap in my corre- 

 spondence is very lamentable ; perhaps the 

 less that is said about it the better. 



Beyond the remarkable frost that occurred 

 last winter (1890-91), there is nothing ex- 

 tremely out of the way to recount ; this frost 

 was, however, quite an event, beginning in 

 the latter part of November and continuing 

 until nearly the end of January. 



During the last three weeks of this period 

 the river was frozen over from bank to bank, 

 forming a regular highway for skaters. With 

 a few breaks here and there, people could 



