The Natural History of Selborne

Severe frost, sun, & flights of snow.  Cutting wind.  Dr. Johnson says “that in 1771 the season was so severe in the island of Sky, that it is remembered by the name of the black spring.  The snow, which seldom lies at all, covered the ground for eight weeks, many cattle dyed, & those that survived were so emaciated & dispirited that they did not require the male at the usual season.”  The case was just the same with us here in the South: never were so many barren cows known as in the spring following that dreadful period.  Whole dairies missed being in calf together.