Posted by sydney on Jan 20th, 2009

Snow scene by Thomas Bewick

  • 1793: January 20, 1793 – Rime on the hanger.  Mr Marsham, who lives near Norwich, writes me word, that a servant of his shot a bird last autumn near his house that was quite new to him.  Upon examination it appeared to him, & to me to answer the description of the Certhia muraria, the Wall-creeper, a bird little know, but some times seen in England.  Ray, & Willoughby never met with it, nor did I ever find it wild, or among the vast collections exhibited in London; but Scopoli had a specimen in his Museum, & says it is to be found in Carniola.  It haunts towers, & castles, & ruins, some times frequents towns, running up the walls of tall houses, & searching the crannies, & chinks for spiders, & other insects.  Some of the internal wing-feathers are beautifully marked on the inner web with two white, or pale yellow spots; & the middle of the outer web edged with red.  Two of these quills, drawn in water-colours, by a young Lady, & charmingly executed, were sent me by Mr Marsham in a frank: the pencilling of these specimens is truly delicate, soft, & feathery.  It is much to be regretted that she did not draw the whole bird.  The claws of this bird are strong & large, says Linnaeus, & Mr Marsham; & especially the hind claw.
  • 1791: January 20, 1791 – Rain & wind in the night.  Thomas says, that when he got-up the Baromr was down at 27-8!
  • 1788: January 20, 1788 – Bror Thomas came from Fyfield.
  • 1784: January 20, 1784 – Vast snows in Cornwall for two days past.
  • 1776: January 20, 1776 – Fierce frost, sun: none since the snow fell; grey. Clouds fly some from the N.W. some from the E.  Hares, compelled by hunger, come into my garden, & eat the pinks.  Lambs fall, & are frozen to the ground.
  • 1775: January 20, 1775 – 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.
  • 1774: January 20, 1774 – Snow remains.  Vast halo round the moon.
  • 1772: January 20, 1772 – Thermor abroad in the sun rise 11: in the wine-vault 43.  Snow dry & frozen: very deep.

Notes:
The winters of 1775 and particularly 1776 are some of the coldest on record in England, matched only by those of 1683-4, 1739-40, and 1962-3. A “falling” lamb is being born.
From the red on the wings, I’m guessing “Certhia muraria” is now termed Tichodroma muraria, and is classified as ‘mega’ rare in the British isles, being native to south-eastern Europe.

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