Oct. 1857. SNOW CRYSTALS. 57 



its case to-day, and put up on the lower deck ; 

 the men enjoy its pleasing tones, whilst Christian 

 unceasingly turns the handle in a state of in- 

 tense delight ; he regards it with such awe and 

 admiration, and is so entranced, that one cannot 

 help envying him ; of course he never saw one 

 before. The instrument was presented by 

 the Prince Consort to the searching vessel 

 bearing his name which was sent out by Lady 

 Franklin in 1851 ; it is now about to pass 

 its third winter in the frozen regions. 



Two dogs ran off yesterday, in the vain hope, 

 I suppose, of bettering their condition, — we 

 only feed them three times a week at present : 

 they returned this morning. • 



Seals are daily seen upon the new ice, but in 

 this doubtful sort of light they are extremely 

 timid, therefore our sportsmen cannot get within 

 shot. The bears scent or hear our dogs, and so 

 keep aloof; even the shark has deserted us, the 

 bait remains intact. The snow crystals of last 

 night are extremely beautiful ; the largest kind 

 is an inch in length ; its form exactly resembles 

 the end of a pointed feather. Stellar crystals 

 two-tenths of an inch in diameter have also 

 fallen ; these have six points, and are the most 

 exquisite things when seen under a microscope. 

 I remember noticing them at Melville Island in 



