SNOW SOAP. 



295 



\van< of their usual snowy covering. (See Glaciers, 

 and Ice.) 



The snow-line, or plane of perpetual snow, is the 

 elevation at which mountains are covered with per- 

 petual snow. The progressive diminution of tem- 

 perature, as we ascend through the air, must finally 

 conduct us to a region of perpetual snow, the eleva- 

 tion of which is, of course, very different in differ- 

 ent latitudes. On the northern side of the Hima- 

 laya mountains, it is about 17,000 feet; on Chim- 

 borazo, 15,802 feet. Humboldt fixes the altitude 

 .of perpetual snows, under the equator, at 15,748 

 feet. Towards the pole, it is much lower. On 

 the Alps, under 46 north latitude, it is about 8860 

 feet. On the Pyrenees, it is stated by Humboldt 

 at 1400 toises, or about 8850 feet. As we recede 

 from the equator towards the north or south, it 

 sinks more rapidly, and, at the North cape, in lati- 

 tude 71, it is estimated at only 366 toises (about 

 2440 feet). In Mexico, Humboldt, from the whole 

 of his observations made in 19 north latitude, 

 places the elevation of the snow-line at 15,028 feet, 

 or, at the lowest estimate, 14,708 feet. From the 

 latitude of 19* to about 30, we are not acquainted 

 with the altitude of a single snowy peak. Too 

 little is known of the range of rocky mountains to 

 enable us to state with accuracy their lowest plane 

 of perpetual snow. In fact, besides the constant 

 data of the latitude and elevation, the position of 

 the snow-line depends so much upon variable 

 causes, such as the form of the summits, the com- 

 parative altitude and other physical features of the 

 surrounding country, the particular exposure of the 

 mountains, &c., that no general rule^canbe given 

 for determining the limits of perpetual snow in any 

 given latitude, at least, with our present very im- 

 perfect information. (See Mountains, Climate, and 

 Temperature.) Even the few facts which have yet 

 been collected on this subject may stand in need of 

 the corrections of more accurate measurements of 

 heights, and, in addition to this, the plane of per- 

 petual snow does not by any means maintain a con- 

 stant elevation in the same latitude; but it varies 

 with the vicissitudes of the seasons, rising during 

 the heats of summer, and sinking by the cold of 

 winter; changing also from one summer to another, 

 according to the prevailing temperature of the year. 

 See Alcenius De Termino Atmospharce terrestris 

 nivali (Abo, 1823, 4to.) 



SNOW; a vessel equipped with two masts, re- 

 sembling the main and fore-masts of a ship, and a 

 third small rnast,just abaft the main-mast, carrying 

 a sail nearly similar to a ship's mizzen. The 

 foot of this mast is fixed in a block of wood, or 

 kind of step, upon the deck, and the head is at- 

 tached to the after part of the main-top. 



SNOWBALL TREE, OB GUELDER ROSE 

 (viburnum opulus). In the wild state, the flowers 

 of this shrub are disposed in terminal corymbs, and 

 the outer ones are much larger than the others. 

 They are succeeded by small red globular berries, 

 of a disagreeable flavour. A variety which is cul- 

 tivated in the gardens has all the flowers large, 

 which gives to the corymbs the appearance of large 

 white balls, and is a highly ornamental plant. 

 These flowers are mostly barren. The Guelder 

 rose is found wild in most parts of Europe; and 

 (he variety above mentioned is of easy culture, and 

 common in gardens. 



SNOW-BIRD (fringilla nivalis, Lin., F. Hud- 

 sonia, Wilson ; F. hiemalis, Audubon) ; specific 

 character bluish black, inclining to gray; belly and 



lateral tail-leathers white ; length about six and a 

 half or seven inches. This hardy and numerous 

 species, common to both continents, pours in flocks 

 from the northern regions into the United States 

 about the middle of October. At this season they 

 migrate into the Southern States in great numbers. 

 They collect a scanty pittance from the frozen and 

 exposed ground, and, at length, driven by hunger, 

 are seen about barns and out-houses and the steps 

 of doors in towns. Before the severity of the sea- 

 son commences, they find their food in thickets and 

 among fallen leaves. In the latter end of March, 

 or the beginning of April, they reappear in flocks 

 from the south, frequenting the orchards or the 

 woods. Soon after, they retire mostly to the nor- 

 thern or remote arctic regions, to breed; many 

 however, according to Wilson, remain in the high 

 ranges of the Alleghany mountains. In Europe, 

 these birds dwell almost wholly among the Alps, 

 the Pyrenees, and the high northern chains on the 

 limits of the region of perpetual ice, and rarely de- 

 scend in winter into the plains. 



SNOWDON, OR PLINLIMMON; the highest 

 mountain in Wales, 3571 feet high. See Wales. 



SNOW-LINE. See Snow. 



SNUFF. See Tobacco. 



SNYDERS, SNEYDERS, OR SNYERS, FRAN- 

 CIS, an eminent painter of the Flemish school, born 

 at Antwerp, in 1579, studied the rudiments of his 

 art under his celebrated countryman Van Bahlen, 

 after which he is said to have travelled through a 

 great part of Italy; but this is denied by some 

 writers. On his return to Flanders, he became 

 attached to the household of the archduke Albert, 

 and finally took up his abode at Brussels. Snyders, 

 who is considered never to have been surpassed in 

 his delineation of beasts, fish, hunting-parties, &o., 

 was accustomed to work in concert with Rubens 

 and Jordaens : and some of the most valuable paint- 

 ings of that school are their joint production. 

 Many of his choice pieces are to be found in the 

 collections at Munich, and Dresden, and in the 

 Escurial. His death took place in 1657. 



SOANE, JOHN; an English architect, born in 

 1756. His genius was fostered by Mr Dance, and 

 he was admitted a student of the royal academy. 

 He obtained the prize for the best design of an ori- 

 ginal building, and in 1777, was sent to reside in Italy 

 at the expense of the king. While in Italy, he was 

 elected a member of the imperial academy of Flor- 

 ence, and of the academy of arts at Parma. After 

 his return to England, he speedily acquired reputa- 

 tion, and was employed in many important works ; 

 among others, on the bank of England. His first 

 appearance as an architectural author, was in 1789, 

 when he published a volume describing and delin- 

 eating the works which he had executed in various 

 parts of England. About this time, he was chosen 

 an associate of the royal academy. In 1803, he be- 

 came a royal academician, and, on the resignation 

 of Mr Dance, was placed in the chair of professor of 

 architecture. The lectures which he delivered in 

 his capacity of professor, were admired for their 

 style and the information which they conveyed. In 

 1794, he was selected by a committee of the house 

 of lords, to propose designs for the improvement of 

 the buildings adjacent to Westminster-hall. His 

 museum of antiquities is much resorted to. He 

 died on the 20th January, 1837. 



SOAP; a compound, in definite proportions, of 

 some oil, fat or resin, with a salifiable base. When 

 this base is potash, or soda, the soap is employed 



