332 FOREyT LIFE IN ACADIE. 



12 — 31. Variable weather, with rain, sleet, and slight 

 frosts. Salmon spawn. : 



December' 1. Snow birds (Emberiza nivalis) arrive. 

 A little snow falls from S.W. 



2. Cold and wintry ; minimum cold at night being 

 16° of frost. Large flights of wild geese passing over 

 to the S.W. 



5. Skating on ponds. 



G — 17. Damp, close, unseasonable weather. 



1 9. Clear. Cold weather recommences. 



20. The " Barber " appears on the harbour in the 

 morning — a dense steam, due to the great difference of 

 temperatures of air and water. The mercury in after- 

 noon descends to 5° above zero, and during ensuing 

 night to -10°. 



21 — 31. Variable. Good skating on large lakes, and 

 ice making on north-west arm of the sea, near the head. 



REMARKS ON THE FALL AND FIRST WINTER MONTH. 



The mean temperature of September was 56°, of 

 October 46° of November 39°, and of December 27°. 

 There were several days at the close of the fall vhen 

 the attributes of Indian summer weather appeared ; but 

 no lengthened season of this delightful feature in the 

 American autumn occun-ed in Nova Scotia. Nor is 

 this weather ever prolonged here, as further westward, 

 where (in Canada) a week or ten days is its frequent 

 duration. 



The song of birds in the early morning in the fall of 

 the year has been generally ascribed to the resemblance 



