380 The Natural History of Selborne 



laurel-hedge, were scorched up ; while at Newton, the same trees 

 have not lost a leaf ! 



We had steady frost on to the 25th, when the thermometer in the 

 morning was down to 10 with us, and at Newton only to 21. 

 Strong frost continued till the 3ist, when some tendency to thaw 

 was observed; and, by January the 3rd, 1785, the thaw was con- 

 firmed, and some rain fell. 



A circumstance that I must not omit, because it was new to us, is, 

 that on Friday, December the loth, being bright sunshine, the air 

 was full of icy spicuU, floating in all directions, like atoms in a sun- 

 beam let into a dark room. We thought them at first particles of 

 the rime falling from my tall hedges ; but were soon convinced to 

 the contrary, by making our observations in open places where no 

 rime could reach us. Were they watery particles of the air frozen 

 as they floated, or were they evaporations from the snow frozen as 

 they mounted ? 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for the early inform- 

 ation they gave us ; and hurried our apples, pears, onions, potatoes, 

 &c., into the cellar, and warm closets ; while those who had not, or 

 neglected such warnings, lost all their store of roots and fruits, and 

 had their very bread and cheese frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you that, during these two Siberian days, 

 my parlour cat was so electric, that had a person stroked her, and 

 been properly insulated, the shock might have been given to a whole 

 circle of people. 



I forgot to mention before, that, during the two severe days, two 

 men, who were tracing hares in the snow, had their feet frozen ; and 

 two men, who were much better employed, had their fingers so 

 affected by the frost while they were thrashing in a barn, that a 

 mortification followed, from which they did not recover for many 

 weeks. 



This frost killed all the furze and most of the ivy, and in many 

 places stripped the hollies of all their leaves. It came at a very early 

 time of the year, before old November ended ; and yet may be 

 allowed from its effects to have exceeded any since 1730-40. 



