144 NATURAL HISTORY 



damage sustained that befel in January 

 1768. Those laurels that were a little 

 scorched on the south-sides were perfectly- 

 untouched on their north-sides. The care 

 taken to shake the snow day by day from 

 the branches seemed greatly to avail the 

 author's evergreens. A neighbour's laurel- 

 hedge, in a high situation, and facing to 

 the north, was perfectly green and vigor- 

 ous ; and the Portugal laurels remained 

 unhurt. 



As to the birds, the thrushes and black- 

 birds were mostly destroyed ; and the par- 

 tridges, by the weather and poachers, were 

 so thinned that few remained to breed the 

 following year. 



LETTER LXIII. 



: ; c: to THE SAME. 



As the frost in December 1784 was very 

 extraordinary, you, I trust, will not be dis- 

 pleased to hear the particulars ; and espe- 



