IX. 



SNOW-FLOWERS AND ICE-CliYSTALS. 



ANIFESTATIONS of 



Nature such as those 

 described in the last 

 chapter may well be 

 termed ' festive oc- 

 casions.' Yet splen- 

 did as the displays 

 are, on account of the 

 exquisite arrangement 

 of the parts which 

 produce such striking effects, the particles which 

 provide the elements of the general display 

 themselves possess a beauty which cannot be 

 seen by him ' who runs,' but needs careful exa- 

 mination to properly appreciate. Beautiful as 

 are the mere whiteness and purity of the snowy 

 particles, their form, revealed to the curious and 



