34 
The late Dr. Jenner 
birds, some of which are rare, and seldom show themselves 
here on any other occasion. We commonly see them three 
or four days prior to the setting in of very severe frosty wea- 
ther. This was manifest at the latter end of the year 1794, 
at the coming on of the severe season that ensued. In the 
river Severn, about a mile and a half to the westward of this 
place, were seen and taken many species of water-birds, 
that generally confine themselves to the more northern re- 
gions. Far more pleasant is it to see during the continuance 
of hard frost, the return of those birds which had left us at 
the beginning. These are pleasant omens, and most cer- 
tainly forebode a thaw. The following example shows how 
soon they catch the first opportunity of again seeking those 
countries from which they were so lately driven by necessity. 
The day preceding the thaw, the frost being then intense, a 
gentleman who was shooting observed a large flock of field- 
fares, birds that are extremely common here in milder wea- 
ther. They were as much untamed as if no frost had appeared 
in our island. He had the good fortune to shoot one of them, 
which was brought to me. I found it as fat and plump, and 
in every respect in as good condition, as if it had remained 
here undisturbed, and had found provision in the greatest 
plenty, though it was without a particle of food in its sto- 
mach. Its last meal was digested; and the frost still remain- 
ing, it could find no food for its present support. Now it is 
very obvious that this bird, and its companions, must have 
taken a long flight, and probably in a very short space of 
time ; for the intense frost, that was of such duration and so 
severely felt here, extended far into the more southern parts 
of Europe, beyond which they must have resorted for that 
