96 CERVID.E. 



doubled in apparent magnitude, flash with tints unknown 

 in skies less clear ; while the aurora shoots nightly across 

 the heavens in ever-changing rays of prismatic hue. 



On the great lakes, however, fogs of Newfoundland 

 intensity are not unfrequent. The larger lakes never 

 freeze over for any distance from shore, but Erie, being 

 much shallower, is frequently covered with ice to a very 

 considerable extent. Every storm of wind breaks it up 

 again, and carries it over the Niagara Falls; thus covering 

 the surface of the lower lake (Ontario) for miles out 

 with white and glistering floes, causing an extraordinary 

 depression of temperature. 



On two different winters, I have seen this broken ice 

 come over the Falls in such quantities as completely to 

 block up the river below the cataract, forming a 

 solid mass of enormous blocks extending from bank to 

 bank, enabling us to approach to the very foot of the 

 Great Horseshoe. 



Notwithstanding the low range of the thermometer, 

 25° below zero (Fahrenheit) being a common state 

 of things, the extraordinary degree of cold that really 

 exists is not felt to anything like the extent that might 

 be anticipated. In fact, excepting in the case of wind, 

 which produces a painful burning sensation, I never 

 suffered more inconvenience from it than I have often 

 done in many of our own winters, though huge trees 



