CAUSE OF RED SNOW. 355 



from top to bottom, but which afforded no hiding- 

 place for these birds to form their nests, presented an 

 appearance uniformly white."* 



This testimony seems to be as clear and indisputable 

 as the explanation given by Peiresc of the ejecta of 

 the butterflies at Aix. But though it will account, 

 perhaps, for the red snow of the polar regions, it will 

 not explain that of the Alps, the Apennines, and the 

 Pyrenees, which are not, so far as we know, visited 

 by the little auk. Thus the matter at present rests, 

 till it be elucidated by further observations. 



* Mag. of Nat. Hist. vol. ii. p. 322. 



