The Natural History of Selborne

Now the ice is melted on Hartley-park pond, many dead fish come floating ashore, which were stifled under the ice for want of air.

A swan came flying up the Lythe, & without regarding objects before it, dashed itself against Dorton-house, & fell down stunned.  It recovered, & was sold the miller at Hawkley.

Fine thaw, snow decreased.

Now the rope is lengthened my well furnishes me with water.

Snow melts very fast.  The frost, where a grave was dug, appeared to have ent’red the ground about 12 inches.

The snow drifted in thro’ the tiling now melts, & floats the ceiling. A Gooseander & a Dun diver, a drake and a duck of the same species, Mergus Merganser, were brought me this morning. They are beautiful birds, never to be seen in the South but in hard frosts: they were shot on the stream at Hedleigh.

Deep snow: snow drifted through every crevice.  Swift thaw.  Snow that had been driven in now melts & drips thro’ the garret-ceiling.

Thermr 8; at South Lambeth 2 1/2.  This frost, as frosts usually do, went-off soon after the Thermr was at the lowest.

The farmers are in pain about their turnips, both those on the ground, & those that are stacked under hedges.  The people at Forestside drive all their cattle to be watered at a spring issuing out at Temple grounds at the foot of Temple hanger.  Oakhanger ponds, & Cranmer ponds are dry.  The frost has lasted now just seven weeks: it began Novr 23.  T. Turner has sunk his well 9 feet without coming to water.  He now desists on account of the expence.  My well, I now find, has more than three feet of water; but the rope is too short to reach it.

A severe frost prevails all over the continent.