476 OHIO. 



to great perfection. The mutton is even said to surpass that of the 

 maritime districts. Several hundred merinos have already been in- 

 troduced. They suffer no depreciation, and are rapidly spreading 

 over the state. 



Climate... .The great geographical extent of this state necessarily 

 gives it a diversified climate. In most parts few or no meteorological 

 observations have yet been made. Along the Ohio river the summers 

 are hot, the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer rising several 

 times to more than 90° every year. It has once or twice been observ- 

 ed at 98°. That region, it has been asserted, is as warm as the At- 

 lantic states, three degrees further south ; but recent observations 

 make the difference at least two-thirds less. The winters of that tract 

 are sometimes severe for its latitude. At Cincinnati the mercury 

 annually falls to cipher several times, and has within seven years been 

 observed 8, 10, and 11 degrees below that point. The snows are not, 

 iiowever, either deep or durable. They seldom exceed five inches, 

 and the Ohio, between the Muskingum and Great Miami, is not often 

 frozen over. The winters towards the northern boundary of the state 

 are much more severe and protracted. Snow frequently falls a foot, 

 and sometimes two feet deep. A local influence is also observed to 

 be exerted by the lake, in rendering the spring more backward, and 

 the autumn more protracted, than at the distance of 15 or 20 miles in 

 the interiour. On the waters of the Ohio river, the south-west wind 

 prevails two-thivds of the year, or 8 months out of 12. In the other 

 4 months, the north-west, north-east, and south-east, prevailing in 

 the order in which they are mentioned, are the principal winds. In 

 the same region, the last vernal frosts are generally at the close of 

 the first week in May, sometimes as late as the middle of that month, 

 but such are commonly too mild to injure vegetation. The earliest 

 autumnal frosts occur soon after the equinox or before the middle of 

 October. An unusual degree of atmospheric moisture is said to pre- 

 vail in this state ; this is perhaps true only of the marshes and level 

 woodlands. The number of entirely fair days in the southern part 

 of the state, is in each year about 170, which is less than in the At- 

 lantic states. 



Animals. ...The bison and elk, once common in this state, have 

 now disappeared. The bear is but seldom seen. Deer are more 

 common but not numerous in the settled parts. Wolves infest only 

 the frontiers. The painter or panther is extremely rare. The wild 

 cat is oftener seen. The beaver is not now to be seen in the peopled, 

 and rarely in the unsettled portion of the state ; it was formerly found 

 in every part. The racoon is a common animal in all but the most 

 populous settlements, and frequently proves destructive to the Indian 

 corn. In severe winters it is observed to subsist on cranberries. 

 Three species or varieties of the fox were once, plenty, but are now 

 rare. Of the smaller quadrupeds the grey squirrel is most common 

 and very destructive to the Indian corn. A law calculated to promote 

 the killing of this animal was once in force in this state. The squir- 

 rel performs occasional migrations to and from Kentucky, perhaps in 

 quest of food. At these times vast numbers are killed immediately 

 after crossing the Ohio river. A species of ?nus, probably the mus 

 terrestris or field mouse, appeared in immense numbers in the west- 

 ern parts of this state in 1810, and did great damage to the wheat, 

 rve, potatoes, and some other vegetables. 



