1853.] PECULIARITIES OF SNOW CRYSTALS. 271 



was the southern side, and that scarcely afforded ad- 

 vance. The entire channel appeared to be pressed home 

 with heavy pack, and suspicious withal. Water, a stran- 

 ger to us for some time, might be seen in the holes ; 

 the very cliffs themselves, frowning on either side, with 

 their dark stratified upper features, seemed calmly to de- 

 ride our efforts to penetrate these mysterious recesses. 



j\fay IS. While Ave delayed it began to snow. We 

 had long joked on the different forms in which these 

 crystallized particles fell, and had classed them into fa- 

 vourable, harmless, and unfavourable. We have to deal 

 with the favourable, or that which, falling in large, beau- 

 tifully formed crystals, in their most elaborate degree 

 of finish, I had termed " stars and garters," from their 

 similarity to the star of that Order, excepting that it 

 has eight rays, whereas Nature only gives six. It now 

 snowed " stars and garters." Seamen are a little su- 

 perstitious. I seized this as a favourable omen, and 

 pushed for the southern shore, landing about six, when 

 the sun shone brightly, and we obtained our time, etc. : 

 but it soon resumed harmless snow. I succeeded in ob- 

 taining the latitude, placing this new land in 76 38' 21" 

 north ; and taking possession in due form, named our di- 

 rection heads Capes Derby and Stanley, and the terri- 

 tory North Yorkshire. The position abounding in fossil 

 limestone, chiefly of the Derbyshire marble, with Entro- 

 chi, TerebratulfB, etc., obtained the name of " Fossil Sta- 

 tion." At seven P.M. we pushed forward, skirting the tidal 

 crack : but our work was not pleasant ; the evening less 

 so, owing to a south gale brewing, which, concentrated 

 into this pipe of the channel funnel, would perhaps 



