The Natural History of Selborne 61 



ounce avoirdupois : so that I suppose they are the smallest quadrupeds 

 in this island. A full-grown Mus medius domesticus weighs, I find, 

 one ounce lumping weight, which is more than six times as much as 

 the mouse above ; and measures from nose to rump four inches and 

 a quarter, and the same in its tail. 



We have had a very severe frost and deep snow this month. My 

 thermometer was one day fourteen degrees and a half below the 

 freezing-point, within doors. The tender evergreens were injured 

 pretty much. It was very providential that the air was still, and the 

 ground well covered with snow, else vegetation in general must have 

 suffered prodigiously. There is reason to believe that some days 

 were more severe than any since the year 1739-40. 



I am, &c. &c. 



^Wheatear 



