METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 491 

 FROZEN SLEET. 



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

 day, in a lane near Hackwood Park, many rooks, which, 

 attempting 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 north- 

 east 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 

 Ian thorn, if they will turn their backs to the light, they 

 will see their shades impressed on the fog in rude gigan- 

 tic proportions. This phenomenon seems not to have 

 been attended to, but implies the great density of the 

 meteor at that juncture 9 . 



9 It appeared to me very singular that the phenomenon called mirage by 

 the French, and for which we have no other name in our language, should 

 have created so much surprise when the French and British armies were 

 in Egypt, and that it should have been looked upon as a marvel belonging 

 to that country. I was well acquainted with the phenomenon, and had 

 repeatedly seen it in the flats of Lincolnshire and the adjoining counties. 

 I have seen it day after day in hot weather upon Peterborough Common, 

 of which the remoter parts, though quite dry, looked like a great lake of 

 water in which every willow and cow was beautifully and distinctly 

 reflected downwards. I have seen the whole country between Spalding 

 and Fossdike-wash in dry weather appear like part of the sea, in the 

 middle of which rose the tower of Boston church, looking like the masts 

 and sails of a large ship standing in towards the person looking at it ; 

 and a gentleman unacquainted with the country who was with me wished 

 very much to make a wager with me that it actually was a ship, and the 

 whole extent of dry land a portion of the sea. I believe that the mirage 

 may always be seen in the flat grass districts upon a bright day in sum- 

 mer. W. H. 



