GLAISHER, ON SNOW CRYSTALS. 183 



posed of two hexao^'ons, so centred as to present a double 

 set of angles ; from six of these spring the main radii of 

 the figure, surmounted by crystalline plates or laminae of 

 (Mrs. King informs me) the greatest transparency. From 

 these laminae spring leafy tufts, which as it were, crown the 

 structure. The lower part of the ray, near the nucleus, serves 

 as an axis for an elongated prism, near the apex of which 

 spring on either side, leaflets of graceful form, intermediate, 

 and springing from the angles of the under hexagon, are a 

 set of shorter raj^s, the axes of similarly elongated prisms, 

 surmounted on the top by three others, the one of similar, the 

 other two of dissimilar figures. It is hardly possible to imagine 

 a more graceful composition, which is greatly enhanced by 

 the delicacy and admira!)le execution of the drawing. 



The one to which I now refer, is also drawn by Mrs. King, 

 and, like the other, Avas observed under a microscope. It 

 is composed of leaflets and laminae, and its nucleus is a 

 single hexagonal star. It is less elaborate, but scarcely less 

 graceful than the former. The drawing of the figure claims 

 equal merit with the preceding. I am greatly indebted to 

 Mrs. King for having two such graceful and elaborate 

 specimens to add to the several which I have received 

 from various sources, and which claim no competition with 

 them, in regard to the grace and intricacy of their structural 

 details. 



The last morning of the frost presented me with the means 

 of accurately observing a few more facts in connexion with 

 this most interesting subject. When I commenced observing 

 at 9h., the temperature was a little above 32°. A fine snow 

 was then falling, accompanied with thick snowy, ill- defined 

 figures, such as are frequently to be inet with at the com- 

 mencement of a thaw. 1 examined several of these with my 

 Coddington, and found them to consist of an assemblage of 

 short, half- formed prisms, set on and around a nucleus, at 

 various angles. The prisms themselves were hardly angular, 

 were of irregular length, and notched here and there. With 

 these figures fell innumerable spiculae, which, under the glass, 

 resolved themselves into prisms, with blunted angles, which 

 had much the character of the icicle, and terminated in a 

 spike. They fell singly, and were of variable length. To 

 the naked eye they appeared of snowy consistency, but undei 

 the glass of crystalline transparency. The temperature was 

 rapidly ascending. 



After a while, these figures almost entirely disappeared, 

 but a leaf-like pinna was here and there to be detected : a 

 remarkable calm and silence pervaded the air. At 11 o'clock. 



