104 



NATURE FOR ITS OWN SAKE 



prised to see the white fairy-land, and they had 

 no intimation whatever of its making. During 

 the day, if the storm increases, the flakes are 

 likely to grow smaller and harder the fall be- 

 ing much like the smaller rain that follows the 

 few large premonitory drops. With a high 

 wind the snow drives almost horizontally at 

 times, and when the wind is in gusts the snow- 

 sheet waves more lightly and easily than the 

 corresponding rain-sheet. 



In Northern countries the light snow driven 

 by high gales often results in what is called a 

 " blizzard " something almost impossible in 

 the region of New York, though the name has 

 been and is frequently applied to every severe 

 snow-storm. A blizzard proper, such as they 

 have occasionally in Dakota, brings with it a fine, 

 driving snow that strikes the face like a shower 

 of sand, stinging, cutting, and almost blinding 

 one. The temperature during its prevalence is 

 usually so low that there is little or no moisture 

 in the air, and the blowing of the wind does not 

 allow the snow to catch and lie upon the ground 

 except in sheltered places. Gusts and eddies 

 are continually swirling great sheets of it 

 through the air. If the ground was previously 

 covered with snow, the low temperature has 



