Appendix. 



COLORED SNOW-FALL IN WESTERN MICHIGAN. 



BY S. T. DOUGLAS. 



ON the 5th of February last there occurred in the western 

 part of Michigan a somewhat strange and interesting phenome- 

 non, namely, a fall of colored snow, which, although exciting 

 much interest and some speculation at the time, has as yet met 

 with no very satisfactory explanation which would account for 

 its origin and its appearance. Coming into possession of a 

 specimen of the sediment obtained by the evaporation of the 

 snow, I became somewhat interested in the subject, and made 

 some inquiries which, together with some subsequent work, which 

 owing to the lack of material and of sources of information is 

 very incomplete, I venture to present. 



To attempt to maintain any particular theory which may 

 account for this phenomenon, would doubtless be a difficult task 

 in our hands ; but by giving the facts concerning it, and com- 

 paring it with events of a similar nature which have been recorded, 

 we may peahaps be able to draw some conclusions as to its prob- 

 able, or at least possible, origin. 



The specimens of the sediment obtained from the snow by 

 evaporation were sent, one by Mr. J. G. Williams, of Saugatuck, 

 Allegan County, Mich., and the other, which was received later, 

 from H. D. Post, Esq., of Holland, Ottawa County, The sedi- 

 ment obtained from Saugatuck was secured by the evaporation of 

 about two quarts of the snow. It is in the form of an impalpable 

 powder, of a grayish black color, presenting somewhat the ap- 



