146 



FOO TNO TES FROM 



sometimes twelve feet in depth, and extending many 

 miles in length, which afford by their strange contrast 

 to the painful uniformity of the pure and dazzling white- 

 ness all around, a sight more surprising to the Arctic or 

 the Alpine traveller than would be the realization of all 

 the fabled wonders of the Arabian tales. 



Another supposed species of Protococcus was disco- 

 vered by Baron Wrangel in the province of Nerike or 

 Nericia in Sweden, not far from the town of Orebo, and 



FIG. 21. PALMELLA CKUESTTA. 



(a) Fructification slightly magnified, 

 (ft) Fructification much magnified. 



(c) Fructification highly magnified. Cells dividing into two, and then into 

 four parts, each capable of propagating the plant 



named by him Lepraria Kermesina. The same plant was 

 afterwards found by various continental botanists among 

 the fissures of rocks, and on the under surfaces of stones 

 in various localities, and called by them Protococcus viri- 

 dis, or green snow. It was also observed by Martins in 

 similar situations in Spitsbergen. It is now, however, 

 ascertained beyond doubt to be a mere variety of Proto- 

 coccus nivalis, as it is identical with it in every respect 

 save colour ; and this difference is owing to the different 

 nature of the circumstances in which it is developed. 



