CHAPTER XII. 

 WHAT TO DO IN THE WINTER. WORK FOR THE CITY. 



No question has been more frequently repeated 

 than "What can be done in the Winter?" 



First of all may be mentioned the study of min- 

 erals. What can be more delightful than to analyze 

 with blowpipe and test-tube the specimens gathered 

 from cliff and quarry during the open months. Direc- 

 tions for this work are to be found in any of the manuals 

 referred to in the list of books, which is given on an- 

 other page. 



Chemistry is another science which can be pursued 

 in winter as well as in summer, and as it lies at the base 

 of nearly all the other natural sciences, students in 

 other departments may well devote the time when they 

 are debarred by weather from outdoor work to its culti- 

 vation. In fact, however, there is hardly a branch of 

 natural history that cannot be followed even out of- 

 doors for many days of every month in the year. 



One of the things which those who live in cities 

 can do, it to make drawings of snow-crystals, to ex- 

 change for specimens more easily found in the country. 

 Catch the crj r stals, as they fall, on a dark cloth. Look 

 at them through a magnifying-glass, if you have one, 

 and draw as well as you can from memory. Photograph 

 them if possible. 



To have these crystal pictures valuable, we must 

 notice the conditions which prevail as the snow faJls. 

 Look at the thermometer and barometer, and note the 

 strength of the wind, as well as the date. Attention 

 to these details will enable us to decide whether or not 



