86 A. EF. Verrill—The Bermuda Tslands. 498 
c.— Temperature ; Frost, Ice, and Snow. 
Frosts have been recorded only a few times during the whole 
period of the history of the islands, and in those cases they have 
been light and probably local. No great damage, even to tender 
plants, has ever been recorded as caused by frosts. 
Governor Lefroy cites two authentic cases: Dec. 24, 1840, when 
ice was formed in tubs, in low situations, “to the thickness of a half- 
crown,” and vegetation was considerably damaged, according to 
some writers; and Feb. 21, 1878, when the thermometer on grass 
registered 28°.2 F. 
A few scattering flakes of snow have been seen in a few instances, 
but so rarely that it is regarded as aremarkable event. On March 1, 
1784, at St. George’s, according to the Royal Gazette, “A light flight 
of snow fell here. In a house the thermometer was as low as 48°, 
out of doors 44°.” One instance was in 1811 or 1812; another, 
March 4, 1874. 
There is no evidence of any definite change in the climate since 
the islands were first settled. Jourdan’s description, in 1610, would 
still apply very well :— 
“In August, September, and untill the end of October, wee had 
very hot and pleasant weather, onely (as I say) thunder, lightning, 
and many scattering showers of Raine (which would passe swiftly 
over, and yet fall with such force and darknesse for the time as if it 
would never bee cleere againe) wee wanted not any: and of raine 
more in Summer then in Winter, and in the beginning of December 
wee had great store of hayle (the sharpe windes blowing Northerly) 
but it continued not, and to say truth, it is wintry or summer 
weather there, according as those North and North-west windes blow. 
Much taste of this kind of Winter wee had; for those cold windes 
would suddenly alter the ayre: but when there was no breath of 
wind to bring the moyst ayre out of the Seas, from the North 
and North-west, wee were rather weary of the heate, then pinched 
with the extreamitie of cold: Yet the three Winter moneths, Decem- 
ber, January, and February, the winds kept in those cold corners, 
and indeed then it was heavy and melancholy being there, nor were 
the winds more rough in March, then in the aforesaid moneths, and 
yet even then would the Birds breed. I thinke they bredde there 
most monethes in the yeere, in September, and at Christmasse I saw 
young Birds,* and in Februarie, at which time the mornings are 
there (as in May in England) fresh and sharpe.” 
* The ‘‘cahows” bred in December and J anuary according to all the early 
accounts. 
