OF SELBORNE. 133 



propriety be carried into animal life ; for 

 discerning bee-masters now find that their 

 hives should not in the Winter be exposed 

 to the hot sun, because such unseasonable 

 warmth awakens the inhabitants too early 

 from their slumbers ; and, by putting their 

 juices into motion too soon, subjects them 

 afterwards to inconveniences when rigor- 

 ous weather returns. 



The coincidents attending this short but 

 intense frost were, that the horses fell sick 

 with an epidemic distemper, which injured 

 the winds of many, and killed some ; that 

 colds and coughs were general among the 

 human species ; that it froze under people's 

 beds for several nights ; that meat was so 

 hard frozen that it could not be spitted, and 

 could not be secured but in cellars ; that 

 several redwings and thrushes were killed 

 by the frost ; and that the large titmouse 

 continued to pull straws lengthwise from 

 the eaves of thatched houses and barns in 

 a most adroit manner, for a purpose that 

 has been explained already.* 



* See Letter xli to Mr. Pennant. 



