192 
NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
It may perhaps appear at first like a paradox ; but doubtless tbe 
more tender trees and shrubs should never be planted in hot aspects ; 
not only for the reason assigned above, but also because, thus circum- 
stanced, they are disposed to shoot earlier in the spring, and to grow on 
later in the autumn than they would otherwise do, and so are sufferers 
by lagging or early frosts. For this reason also plants from Siberia will 
hardly endure our climate ; because, on the very first advances of spring, 
they shoot away, and so are cut off by the severe nights of March 
or April. 
Dr. Fothergill and others have experienced the same inconvenience 
with respect to the more tender shrubs from North America, which 
they therefore plant under north walls. There should also perhaps be a 
wall to the east to defend them from the piercing blasts from that quarter. 
This observation might without any impropriety be carried into 
animal life ; for discerning bee-masters now find that their hives should 
not in the winter be exposed to the hot sun, because such unseasonable 
warmth awakens the inhabitants too early from their slumbers ; and, by 
putting their juices into motion too soon, subjects them afterwards to 
inconveniencies when rigorous weather returns. 
The coincidents attending this short but intense frost were, that the 
horses fell sick with an epidemic distemper, which injured the winds of 
many, and killed some ; that colds and coughs were general among the 
human species ; that it froze under people's beds for several nights ; 
that meat was so hard frozen that it could not be spitted, and could not 
be secured but in cellars ; that several red-wings and thrushes were 
killed by the frost ; and that the large titmouse continued to pull straws 
lengthwise from the eaves of thatched houses and barns in a most 
adroit manner, for a purpose that has been explained already.* 
On the 3rd of January, Benjamin Martin's thermometer within doors, 
in a close parlour where there was no fire, fell in the night to 20°, and 
on the 4th, to 18°, and on the 7th, to 17^°, a degree of cold which the 
owner never since saw in the same situation ; and he regrets much that 
he was not able at that juncture to attend his instrument abroad. All 
this time the wind continued north and north-east ; and yet on the 8th 
roost-cocks, which had been silent, began to sound their clarions, and 
crows to clamour, as prognostic of milder weather; and, moreover, 
moles began to heave and work, and a manifest thaw took place. From 
the latter circumstance we may conclude that thaws often originate 
under ground from warm vapours which arise ; else how should subter- 
raneous animals receive such early intimations of their approach. 
Moreover, we have often observed that cold seems to descend from 
above ; for, when a thermometer hangs abroad in a frosty night, the 
intervention of a cloud shall immediately raise the mercury 10°; and 
a clear sky shall again compel it to descend to its former gage. 
And here it may be proper to observe, on what has been said above, 
that though frosts advance to their utmost severity by somewhat of 
a regular gradation, yet thaws do not usually come on by as regular 
a declension of cold ; but often take place immediately from intense 
freezing ; as men in sickness often mend at once from a paroxysm. 
* See Letter XLI. to Mr. Pennant. 
