1853.] THERMOMETERS INSERTED IN SNOW. 85 



surface and from the exposed sides of the block : that 

 placed in the ground tube occupied a position between 

 the block and the Observatory. Our anticipations of de- 

 crease of temperature were in this instance groundless, 

 as with the increase of wind it rose rapidly to -j- 25. 

 Aloft it evidently blew a heavy gale, of which we were 

 merely entertained with the whistling and rattling of our 

 loose gear aloft. On the floe, however, a very consider- 

 able accumulation of snow-drift was deposited, much in 

 the same manner as last season, and although not so 

 high, afforded a comfortable promenade around the ship. 

 The recurrence of this forcibly brings to my mind the 

 reports of houses, tents, etc., overwhelmed by the snow- 

 drift of a night. There can be little doubt that under 

 circumstances favourable to deposit, as flocculent snow, 

 low temperature, and no reverberatory action by state 

 of the wind, this could easily happen. But our obser- 

 vations here teach us that the drift snow of an Arctic 

 winter is of an entirely different disposition. I have be- 

 fore remarked, that it is not properly snow, but very fine 

 drift ice, which is transferred by the slightest action of 

 the wind. This is particularly apparent on every abrupt 

 angle of the terraces, or smooth rounded summits, of the 

 coast-line. Last winter it did not surround the Obser- 

 vatory, nor the boat under which the standard thermo- 

 meters were placed, nor the washhouse, on one side it 

 rested, but not to press on or incommode. Indeed it so 

 happened, although on opposite sides, and within a few 

 yards, that the reverberatory breeze deeply scored, or 

 furrowed out, spaces where absolutely convenient ; form- 

 ing indeed a protecting guard, with a space between it 



