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
inconveniences 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 January, Benjamin Martin's thermometer within doors, in a
close parlour where there was no fire, fell in the night to 20 degrees,
and on the 4th, to 18 degrees, and on the 7th, to 17.5 degrees, 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 subterraneous 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 degrees;
and a clear sky shall again compel it to descend to its former gauge.

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