sonable 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 wind of many, and 

 killed some ; that colds and coughs were general 

 among the human species ; that it froze under peo- 

 ple's beds for several nights ; that meat was frozen 

 so hard 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 ex- 

 plained already.* 



On the 3rd of January, Benjamin Martin's ther- 

 mometer 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 17!^, a degree of cold which 

 the owner never observed 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 crow with clam- 



* See Letter LXI. to Mr. Pennant, vol. ii., p. 30. 

 178 



