CLIMATE. 127

ings and mornings are pleasant, but cool, and a fire becomes agreeable. This period is termed, all over America, the “ Indian summer,” and is always looked for, and depended on, as the time to make prepara- tions for the winter season. The French Canadians, and Acadians, say the atmospheric warmth, at this time, is caused by the heat of the great blaze of the prairies set on fire by the Indians, west of the lakes, to destroy the grass. However absurd this belief is, it has acquired a firm credence among an ignorant people.

About the end of November, or a little after, the frosts become more severe, and the northerly winds more prevalent; the sky, however, continues clear, and the weather dry, with the exception of a rainy day once in a week, or in every ten days. This month, and often the whole of December, pass away before severe frosts or snows become permanent, which, the old inhabitants say, never takes place until the differ-- ent ponds or small lakes are filled with water by the alternate frosts, thaws, and rains that occur, or until a little after the wild geese depart for the south.

Towards the end of December, or the beginning of January, the winter season becomes firmly esta— blished ; the bays and rivers are frozen over, and the ground covered to the depth of a foot or more with snow. The frost is extremely keen during the months of January, February, and the early part of March— the mercury being frequently several degrees below zero. A thaw and mild weather generally occur for a day or two about the middle of January, and some-