Lesson xix.] SNOW, HAIL, 8cc. 1 1 1 



time the clouds are probably frozen before their 

 particles are gathered into drops : small pieces of 

 them being condensed and made heavier by the 

 cold, fall down in Snow : 



Then from aerial treasures downward pours 

 Sheets of unsullied snow in lucid showers ; 

 Flake after flake, through air, thick wav'ring flie, 

 Till one vast shining waste all natnre lies. 

 Then the proud hills a virgin whiteness shed 

 A dazzling brightness glitters from the mead ; 

 The hoary trees reflect a silver show, 

 And groves beneath the lovely burden bow. 



BROOME, 



On a close examination, Snow is found to be 

 composed of icy darts or stars united to each 

 other, as crystals of water commonly are, whether 

 they compose ice, snow, or hoar frost, at angles 

 of 60 or 120 degrees. Its whiteness is owing to 

 the small particles, into which it is divided, re- 

 fracting and reflecting, instead of transmitting, all 

 the rays of light that fall upon it. Ice, when 

 pounded, becomes equally white. 



If drops of rain in their falling pass through 

 a region of cold air, they become congealed in 

 their passage, and fall in Hailstones: but Signior 

 Beccana supposes that Hail is formed in the 

 higher regions of the air, where ihe cold is 

 intense, and where the electric matter is very 

 copious. 



In the months of October and November, Fogs 

 or Mist 9 are more frequent and thicker than at any 

 other period of the year. If we consider the cause 



of 



