Dark & sharp, sun, cutting wind, hard frost. Icicles. Note: Chaucer, speaking of Goassamer as a strange phenomenon, says, “As sore some wonder at the cause of thunder;/ on ebb, & flode, on gosomer, & mist;/And on all thing; ’till that cause is wist.”
Received two bramblings from Mr Battin of Burkham. They are seen but seldom in these parts: are fine shewey birds.
Mr Hool’s man says that he caught this day in a lane near Hackwood-park, many rooks, which attempting to fly fell from the trees with their wings frozen together by the sleet, that froze as it fell. There were, he affirms, many dozens so disabled! It is certain that Mr H’s man did bring home many rooks & give them to the poor neighbours.
The hawk proinith, says the new glossary to Chaucer; this is picketh, or dresseth her feathers: from thence the word preen, a term in ornithology, when birds adjust, & oil their feathers.
Grey, & white water-wagtails appear every day; they never leave us in the winter.
Theme Ported to