1852.] WINTER COMMENCES. 175 



but is not indicated by the magnetometer -. at noon it is 

 suddenly deflected. 



The bond fde winter does not appear to commence 

 before the 1st of December, and about that period I 

 observe that the walkers are more energetic in their exer- 

 cise, and take to it more decidedly as essential to health 

 than for amusement. I quite agree in this feeling, but 

 deeming sundry wounds not easily cured, if I should un- 

 necessarily expose myself, or meet with an accident, fit 

 matters to be trifled with, am content to take that which 

 the deck or light trips to the Observatory furnish. 



On the 6th of December, being the last of our strolls, 

 I noticed Venus to the south-south-west, refracted with 

 extraordinary splendour ; a complete Pharos, a vertical 

 ray exhibiting most splendid pencils of light. It was 

 so well worth notice, that I called some of the officers out 

 to witness it ; but I found that, on ascending the side of 

 the hill to obtain a better view, it dwindled again into 

 simply Venus ; not the first one she has deceived. 



A certain set of experiments were now made on freez- 

 ing water ; not simply to satisfy myself on this very 

 beautiful phenomenon, as all of Nature's works are 

 when scientifically investigated, but for the purpose of 

 determining the amount of vapour thrown off during the 

 progress of crystallization. For these experiments I used 

 a very delicate balance, substituting gutta-percha vessels 

 of nine square inches' surface for those of brass ; they 

 were half an inch in depth. I found it difficult to deal 

 with even one drop, but, by the aid of a very fine capil- 

 lary dropping (test) tube, and a shred of blotting-paper, 

 soon adjusted my balance. The amount of water sub- 



