382 PLEASANT WA YS Iff SCIENCE. 



weather very similar to those we at present recognize 

 Consider, for instance, Gilbert White's brief summary of the 

 weather from 1768 onwards : 



For the winter of 1768-69 we have October and the first 

 part of November rainy; thence to the end of 1768 alter- 

 nate rains and frosts ; January and February frosty and rainy, 

 with gleams of fine weather ; to the middle of March, wind 

 and rain. 



For the winter of 1769-70 we have October frosty, the 

 next fortnight rainy, the next dry and frosty. December 

 windy, with rain and intervals of frost (the first fortnight 

 very foggy) ; the first half of January frosty, thence to the 

 end of February mild hazy weather. March frosty and 

 brighter. 



For 1770-71, from the middle of October to the end of 

 the year, almost incessant rains; January severe frosts till 

 the last week, the next fortnight rain and snow, and spring 

 weather to the end of February. March frosty. 



For 1771-72, October rainy, November frost with in- 

 tervals of fog and rain, December bright mild weather with 

 hoar frosts ; then six weeks of frost and snow, followed by 

 six of frost, sleet, hail, and snow. 



For 1772-73, October, November, and to December 22, 

 rain, with mild weather; to the end of 1772, cold foggy 

 weather ; then a week of frost, followed by three of dark 

 rainy weather. First fortnight of February frost ; thence to 

 the end of March misty showery weather. 



Passing over the winter of 1773-74, which was half 

 rainy, half frosty, what could more closely resemble the 

 winter weather we have had so much of during the last 

 few years, than that experienced in the winter of 1774-75 ? 

 From August 24 to the third week of November, there was 

 rain, with frequent intervals of sunny weather ; to the end of 

 December, dark dripping fogs ; to the end of the first fortnight 

 in March, rain almost every day. 



And so on, with no remarkable changes, until the year 

 1792, the last of Gilbert White's records. 



