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( 239 ) 



On "the Animalcules of the Bed Snow, By Dr C. Vogt. 



The researches of Mr Shuttleworth, published in the BibL 

 Univ. 1840,* on the colouring matter of red snow, shew that 

 the red-coloured snow of our Alps is not solely vegetable, 

 but that it contains a great number of animals. But the ob- 

 servations of this botanist, although very exact, have not 

 since been repeated a sufficient number of times, nor in a 

 sufficient number of localities, to view them otherwise than 

 the first steps towards facts, which throw a new light on the 

 study of the microscopic fauna. A number of details remain- 

 ed for further investigation ; and as M. Agassiz made a pro- 

 longed visit at the glacier of the Aar, we took with us Ehren- 

 berg's great work on Infusoria, and two microscopes, with a 

 view to study the red snow in a fresh state, and to compare 

 the same from different localities wherever it was to be met 

 with. The results we have obtained are by no means unim- 

 portant, as regards the new and curious forms that we have 

 discovered, and the observations we have made on their mode 

 of life, and the facts connected with the development and re- 

 production of these extraordinary beings, of which their pre- 

 sence in the midst of eternal snow is in some manner a dementi 

 given to the general ideas which are admitted on the conditions 

 of the existence of organic beings. The circumstance which 

 surprised us more than all, was the diversity of form exhibited 

 by individuals collected from various localities. It is probable 

 that each station possesses beings proper to it, associated with 

 a certain number of other types more generally distributed. 



The red snow was found this year (August 1840) in great 

 abundance on the glaciers which descend in the valley of the 

 Aar. We also observed it at the extremity of the glacier of 

 Oberaar, on the glacier of Finsteraar, on the plains of snow 

 which border the west flank of Siedelhorn, and in numerous 

 points of the lower glacier of the Aar, between others near to 

 that of Abshwung, in the neighbourhood of the hotel of Neu- 

 chatelois, near the crystal grottos, on the lower glacier of 

 Grindelwald, &c. The following are the organisms which wc 

 met with in these situations : — 



* Mr Shuttleworth's Memoir was also puWished in the 2QUi volume of 

 this Jouraul. — Edit. 



