134 NATURAL HISTORY 



On the 3rd of January, Benjamin Mar- 

 tifis thermometer within doors, in a close 

 parlour where there was no fire, fell in the 

 night to 20, and on the 4th to 1 8, and on 

 the 7th to 17|-, a degree of cold which the 

 owner never since saw in the same situa- 

 tion ; and he regrets much that he was not 

 able at that juncture to attend his instru- 

 ment abroad. All this time the wind con- 

 tinued north and north-east ; and yet on 

 the 8th roost-cocks, which had been silent, 

 began to sound their clarions, and crows to 

 clamour as prognostic of milder weather ; 

 and, moreover, moles began to heave and 

 work, and a manifest thaw took place. 

 From the latter circumstance we may con- 

 clude that thaws often originate under 

 ground from warm vapours which arise, 

 else how should subterraneous animals re- 

 ceive such early intimations of their ap- 

 proach. Moreover, we have often observed 

 that cold seems to descend from above ; 

 for, when a thermometer hangs abroad in 

 a frosty night, the intervention of a cloud 

 shall immediately raise the mercury ten 



