446 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



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 continually 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. 



FROZEN SLEET 



January 20. Mr. H.'s man says that he caught this day, 

 in a lane near Hackwood park, many rooks, which, attempt- 

 ing 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. 



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 supposed 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. 



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 

 proportions. This phenomenon seems not to have been 

 attended to, but implies the great density of the meteor at 

 that juncture. 



HONEY DEW 



June 4, 1783. Vast honey dews this week. The 

 reason of these seem to be, that in hot days the effluvia 



