Snow Crystals. 



281 



FIG: 2. 



Fig. 1 7 was the most remarkable crystal, in some re- 

 spects not unlike the bloom 

 of a marigold. 



Fig. 2 8 was a feathery 

 crystal, opaque, each branch 

 hexagonal, and hollow. 



At llh. 50m. a.m., these 

 crystals became mingled with 

 very thin, transparent, and 

 exceedingly small needles of 

 ice, Fig. 3 a. 



At noon, these needles 

 fell briskly, and frequently 

 two were united, mostly 

 like Fig. 3 j3. 



At 12h. 5m. p.m., the 



needles had either assumed fi $ 



the form of feathers, Fig. 3 y, or fell in bundles of feathers, Fig. 



f i g : 3 . 3 8, and the crystals that now fell 



\ were much smaller, many of the 



\ / ^k s * ze °^ ^S- ^ & an( ^ sorae ° n iy 



\y %, j us ^ visible to the naked eye, like 



^ Fig. 4 7. Before llh. 50m. a.m., 

 ' none were less than Fig. 4 a. The 

 needles of ice when they first com- 

 menced falling were only equal in 

 size to Fig. 4 8, but soon became 

 larger. The microscopic crystal, 

 Fig. 4 7, was just discernible as 

 a minute circle, which, when mag- 

 nified, resolved itself into a beautiful and complicated crystal. 

 In contrast to the microscope crystal. Fig. 4 7, my brother 

 (Capt. A. S. H. Lowe) 

 sketched one at 11 a.m. on 

 the 2 0th of February as large 

 as a fourpenny-piece. This 

 is represented, in Fig. 4 e, of 

 the natural size and form. 

 I need not say this is a 

 most unusual size, and more 

 nearly approaches those de- 

 scribed as seen in the polar 

 regions by the arctic navi- 

 gators. 



.Returning to our pre- 

 sent snow-storm, at 12h. 

 1 0m. p.m. the crystals were less in number, there 



A 



F1G:4- 



F I G : 6. 



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