1876 EVAPORATION OF SNOW. 225 



in the thermometers contracted gradually after freez- 

 ing, and by so doing registered the actual temperature 

 tolerably correctly, until it fell to about minus 47 °'5 ; 

 below that degree the contraction was irregular and 

 increased considerably. 



' The appetites of all are returning in a most mar- 

 vellous manner ; so much so that instead of the 

 allowance of meat not being all used as in the fall of 

 the year, there is now scarcely sufficient, It is difficult 

 to account for our loss of appetite in • November. 

 Sir Edward Belcher remarks the same fact as having 

 occurred on board the "Assistance" in 1852-53. 



' While working in a snow-house on shore Dr. 

 Moss observes that any small quantity of snow left on 

 the gravel floor of the honse has evaporated before 

 his return on the following day ; the moisture set free 

 rising and collecting on the inside of the dome of the 

 house as rime. This probably explains the nature of 

 the decay which takes place on the under surface of 

 the whole extent of the snow covering the ground ; 

 by which means a clear space is produced some one or 

 two inches high, giving ample room for the lemmings 

 to rim about, and free space above the dwarf Arctic 

 plants, with an uniform temperature many degrees 

 higher than the atmosphere. If the same decay takes 

 place below ice it must greatly assist in producing the 

 downward movement of a glacier. 



< 24th.- — A very low barometer, 29*02 inches, with 

 dark clouds hanging above Cape Eawson, but the 

 weather continues calm with a temperature down to 

 minus 58°. Though many noses were frost-bitten we 

 all " did " the " ladies' mile " as usual, with heads well 



vol. I. Q 



