Db. Macvioae's Adaptation of the Philosophy of 



which being very light, may well suit to form the beautiful fine-weather- 



elouds. 



It is also to be considered, however, 

 that the single particles may unite poles 

 or equators, in which case rhombo- 

 hedral vesicles of defective symmetry 

 must result, and these may give tlie 

 ragged clouds, (nimbri, &c.) On the 

 breaking up of the former, if sufficient 

 cold be carried down to the lower strata 

 of the atmosphere, to preserve the rigi- 

 dity, it is only necessary to inspect the 

 figure above to obtain an explanation of 



the usual forms of snow flakes, as represented in any work which gives them. 



And 1ft the temperature be such as not to insist upon the rigidity 

 of the star-like combination, and then these star-like cloud elements 

 will unite in couples only, giving an exquisite molecule, of which fig. 

 AQ may give some idea, composed of 36 particles of vapour, its atomic 



weight 45 x 36 = 1620. 

 As to its properties, some 

 that are very remarkable 

 present themselves. Thus, 

 since, according to this 

 view, a particle of water 

 is a hollow cell or basket 

 of dew, we are at *once 

 able to understand the 

 phenomenon, that into a 

 certain volume of water 

 we may introduce a great 

 quantity of different salts 

 without adding to that 

 volume. The particles of 

 salt may nestle in the in- 

 terior of the particles of 



