and the Weather xMch 'preceded and followed, 54* 1 



yet, as in the former instance, the cqld was not equally severe 

 the whole time. For the first nine days, that is to say, from 

 the 8th to the 1 6th of January (both days inclusive), the mean 

 temperature of the 24 hours ranged from 28° to 33*5° ; but 

 on the 17th it descended to 25°, and on the 18th to 16°.* 

 On the 19th it was likewise as low as 20*5°, but on the 

 20th it rose again to 32° ; and thence to the 30th the cold 

 somewhat abated, the mean temperature seldom descending 

 much below the freezing point, and occasionally rising as high 

 as 34° and 35°. However, on the 31st, the frost again set in 

 with increased severity ; and the mean temperature of the six 

 first days in February was only 20*6°. 



I have endeavoured above to trace the principal fluctuations 

 of the mean daily temperature during the continuance of this 

 long frost. The first break to the severe weather occurred on 

 the 7th of February, when a decided thaw took place, attended 

 by much wind and driving rain from the south ; yet, after two 

 or three days, the weather showed a strong disposition to 

 relapse into its former state, and a full fortnight expired 

 before there was any considerable rise of the thermometer ; 

 which instrument, during this period, was seldom higher 

 than 40°, often not so high, and frequently descended in the 

 night to 28° and 25°. It was not till the 24th of February 

 that any thing like an approach to spring weather was expe- 

 rienced. On that day, however, without any apparent cause, 

 the wind remaining in the same quarter in which it had been 

 for the four previous days, the thermometer rose to 55'5° in 

 the shade, being more than 10^ higher than it had stood at 

 any time before since the commencement of the new year. 

 This sudden increase of temperature seemed to exert consi- 

 derable influence over both the animal and vegetable world : 

 a few plants were observed in flower ; many insects came on 

 wing ; the birds resumed their song ; and, more especially, 

 large flocks of wild geese, none of which had been noticed 

 since October, 1829, were seen shifting their quarters princi- 

 pally in the direction of north and north-west. Neither was 

 this a mere temporary change : from that time the weather 

 became more seasonable, and, especially from the little rain 



* It is a curious fact, that during this severe weather a brood of tipuli- 

 deous insects (Trichocera hieraalis Meig.) suddenly made their appearance 

 and were noticed abroad in considerable numbers, settling upon the walls 

 of different outbuildings, as if they had just emerged from the pupa state ; 

 and though they did not offer to take wing for several weeks, yet they 

 readily moved their quarters when disturbed ; a proof that, notwithstanding 

 the continued frost, they had the power of resisting torpidity, and to a 

 degree far exceeding any other insects. 



N N ■- 3 



