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289 
be a wall to the eafl to defend them from the piercing blafts from 
that quarter. 
This obfervation might without any impropriety be carried 
into animal life ; for difceining bee -mafters now find that their 
hives fhould not in the winter be expofed to the hot fun, becaufe 
fuch unfeafonable warmth awakens the inhabitants t'^o early from 
their flumbers ; and, by putting their juices into motion too foon, 
fubjeifls them afterwards to inconveniencies when rigorous weather 
returns. 
The coincidents attending this idiort but intenfe frofl were, that 
the horfes fell fick with an epidemic diftemper, which injured the 
winds of many, and killed fome ; that colds and coughs were 
general among the human fpecies ; that it froze under people's 
beds for feveral nights ; that meat was fo hard frozen that it could 
not be fpitted, and could not be fecured but in cellars ; that 
feveral redwings and thrufhes were killed by the froft ; and that 
the large titmoufe continued to pull ftraws ■ lengthwife from the 
caves of thatched houfcs and barns in a moft adroit manner, for a 
purpofe that has been explained already''. 
On the 3d of January Benjar.un Martins thermomicter within 
doors, in a clofe parlour where there was no fire, fell in the night 
to 20, and on the 4th to 18, and on the 7th to i']^, a degree 
of cold which the owner never fincc fiiw in the fame fituation ; and 
he regrets much that he was not able at that jundture to attend 
his infi:rument abroad. All this time the v/ind continued nordi 
and north-eaft ; and yet on the Sth rooft-cocks, which had 
been filent, began to found their clarions, and crows to clamour, 
as prognoftic ot liulder weather ; and, moreover, moies began ro 
* See Letter xli, to Mr. Pennant. 
?p 
heave 
