438 ACCOUNT OF THE AKCTIC REGIONS. 



the vane removed. Near the surface of the ropes, 

 was first a small direct line of very white particles, 

 constituting the stem or shaft of the feather ; from 

 whence, at an angle' of 60 degrees, extended a colla- 

 teral series of finer fibres in close and parallel order, 

 forming the vane of the feather ; and from each of 

 these fibres in another plane, proceeded a short deli- 

 cate range of spiculse or rays, discoverable only by 

 the help of a microscope, with which the elegant tex- 

 ture and systematic construction of the feather were 

 completed. Many of these crystals, possessing a per- 

 fect arrangement of tlie different parts correspond- 

 ing with the shaft, vane, and rachis of a feather, 

 were upwards of an inch in length, and three-fourths 

 of an inch in breadth. Some consisted of a single 

 flake or feather ; but many of them gave rise to 

 other feathers, which sprung from the surface of the 

 vane at the usual angle. There seemed to be no li- 

 mit to the magnitude of these feathers, so long as 

 the producing cause continued to operate, until their 

 weight became so great, or the action of the wind so 

 forcible, that they v/ere broken off, and fell in flakes 

 to the deck of the ship. 



Whatever may be the predisposing cause of crys- 

 tallization, it is clear, from these facts, that regular 

 crystals may be formed in an aerial as avcII as in an 

 aqueous menstruum ; by slow and progressive addi- 

 tions, as vv^ell as by sudden shoots ; and by a combi- 

 nation of visible particles, as well jis I)y tlie applica- 



