NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE, 273 



Dr. Fothergill and others have experienced the same 

 inconvenience with respect to the more tender shrubs from 

 North America, which they therefore plant under north 

 walls. There should also perhaps be a wall to the east 

 to defend them from the piercing blasts from that quarter. 



This observation might without any impropriety 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 rigorous 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 red-wings 

 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. 



On the 3rd January, Benjamin Martin's themometer 

 within doors, in a close parlour where there was no fire, fell 

 in the night to 20°, and on the 4th, to 18°, and on the 7th, 

 to 17J°, a degree of cold which the owner never since saw 

 in the same situation ; and he regrets much that he was 

 not able at that juncture to attend his instrument abroad. 

 All this time the wind continued 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 



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