ii2 From Matter to Man. 



motion of the fronds, not even an iron magnet. The 

 energy seems to originate and end in the crystals 

 themselves. Perhaps, however, an icicle discriminately 

 handled might affect them. 



See next chapter for an explanation of all the above 

 phenomena. 



II. Lead Trees. — If a piece of zinc be suspended 

 in a solution of acetate of lead the invisible atoms 

 aggregate into visibility, attach themselves to the 

 solid metal, and gradually sprout into a miniature 

 tree, each branch and twig repelling the other. Or, 

 if an electric current be sent through the solution, 

 the lead atoms instantly liberate themselves from 

 the water particles and grow together like sprouting 

 ferns. 



The one experiment is the key to the other, for the 

 artificial electric current constructs suddenly what the 

 natural electric energy does slowly through the agency 

 of the polaric laws, as we shall show anon. 



III. Snow-Shrubs. — Perhaps the closest link be- 

 tween the mineral and vegetal kingdoms is that 

 minute mimicry of vegetation — the " snow-shrub." 

 Growing to the height of half an inch to an inch 

 under abnormal conditions, its existence seems hitherto 

 to have escaped observation. On a frozen pond, over 

 whose dark treacherous surface the tiniest flecks of 

 drifted snow are swept by a piercing wind, some slight 

 excrescence of sand or pebble stops a few flying 

 flakes and fastens them to itself. These, pining for 

 company, snare other flying drift, lock them in their 



