178 EFFECTS OF WINTER EAST WINDS. 
the influence of frost, by which condition also, the 
stars twinkle and appear particularly bright. As 
the sun declines still further, the exhalations of the 
day begin to settle, and are almost frozen into 
icicles ere they gain the earth. In the depth of 
the night the frost arrives at its acme, and at day¬ 
break a splendid hoar-frost presents itself to view, 
in nothing more remarkable and beautiful than in 
the fringe which decorates every blade of grass 
in the meadows. Now, the sportsman habited for 
an expedition through swamps and wet fields, is 
seen departing early, full of anticipation of success 
in his search for snipes and woodcocks, aware, that 
with an easterly wind these birds disperse over the 
country, and are found at every little pond and 
brook exempt from ice. This frosty and bleak 
wind also causes many species of the grallse, &c. to 
frequent the shores, or at least some proportion of 
each kind; while, on the same principle of dispersion 
of animals under want, certain individuals of the 
thrush kind, the robin, wren, hedge-sparrow, &c. 
haunt the margin of rivers, and pick up aquatic 
on his voyage, he arrived in two or three days at the agreed spot, 
and found to his astonishment the vessel waiting according to 
original proposal. He found also on charging the other captain 
with having neglected his signals, and with having proceeded 
beyond the appointed spot, that the appearance was due only to 
refraction by which the vessel proceeding on her course towards 
him had actually been so elevated above the horizon, as to have 
appeared near him and beyond the appointed limit, whereas, in 
fact, she had not at that time arrived even so far as that spot.— 
One Sunday, the poor of a small place situated on one of the 
high hills above Bath, were alarmed by seeing (as they supposed,) 
a Regiment of Soldiers marching on a hill near them, and being 
under the influence of great terror, ran to the clergyman and in¬ 
formed him that a body of soldiers was coming into the place ; 
this gentleman found that a militia man had lately died in a vil¬ 
lage in an adjacent valley, (!) and was that day being escorted to 
his grave by a few of his comrades. 
