NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 281 



arbutuses, cypresses, and even my Portugal laurels, and 

 (which occasions more regret) my fine sloping laurel-hedge, 

 were scorched up; while, at Newton, the same trees have 

 not lost a leaf. 



We had steady frost on the 25th, when the thermometer 

 in the morning was down to 10 with us, and at Newton 

 only to 21. Strong frost continued till the 31st, when 

 some tendency to thaw was observed ; and, by January 3rd, 

 1785, the thaw was confirmed, and some rain fell. 



A circumstance that I must not omit, because it was new 

 to us, is, that on Friday, December 10th, being bright sun- 

 shine, the air was full of icy spiculce, floating in all 

 directions, like atoms in a sunbeam let into a dark room. 

 We thought them at first particles of the rime falling from 

 my tall hedges ; but were soon convinced to the contrary, 

 by making our observations in open places where no rime 

 could reach us. Were they watery particles of the air 

 frozen as they floated, or were they evaporations from the 

 snow frozen as they mounted 1 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for the early 

 information they gave us ; and hurried our apples, pears, 

 onions, potatoes, etc., into the cellar and warm closets ; 

 while those who had not, or neglected such warnings, lost 

 all their store of roots and fruits, and had their very bread 

 and cheese frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you that, during these two 

 Siberian days, my parlour cat was so electric, that had 

 a person stroked her, and been properly insulated, the 

 shock might have been given to a whole circle of people. 



I forgot to mention before, that, during the two severe 

 days, two men, who were tracing hares in the snow, had 

 their feet frozen, and two men, who were much better 

 employed, had their fingers so affected by the frost, while 



