THE COLD WINTER" 217 



whatever become of them all winter. I know not 

 yet of any body who has given tolerable satisfaction 

 in this particular, amongst our ornithologists." 



We find this reference made of the winter of 

 1709, known in history as the Gold Winter: ."All 

 the rivers and lakes were frozen, and even the sea 

 for several miles from the shore. The ground was 

 frozen nine feet deep. Birds and beasts were 

 struck dead in the fields, and men perished by 

 thousands in their houses. In the south of France 

 the vine plantations were almost destroyed, nor 

 have they even yet recovered that fatal disaster. 

 The Adriatic Sea was frozen, and even the 

 Mediterranean about Genoa; and the citron and 

 orange groves suffered extremely in the finest 

 parts of Italy." - 



While walking near water during the short 

 twilight of a winter evening, the atmosphere some- 

 times shows a very curious phenomenon which it 

 is difficult to describe, but which is as though a 

 piece of misty glass were held before the eyes, 

 slightly obstructing the view. When there is no 

 frost this is still more noticeable, and probably the 

 dampness of the air causes this curious effect, 

 although it differs from common fog. I have 

 noticed it more when the weather has been 

 particularly clear, 



