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But the most accurate accounts extant only date from 1760 of 

 the present era. Saussure ahout this time made careful examina- 

 tions of "red snow" obtained from the Apennines. The result 

 of his investigations was the discovery of a vegetable substance 



The subject now remained quiescent until the return of the 

 Arctic exploring expedition under Sir John Ross in 1819. New 

 material was now obtained for examination. Specimens of " red 

 snow" were sent to Robert Brown and Francis Bauer. 



lular plant belonging to the order of Algae. 



Bauer, however, dissented from Brown, and declared it to be a 

 species of fungus (Urerfo nivalis). Apart from his conclusions 

 upon the subject, he made many interesting experiments with the 



given. But perhaps the most curious experiment was his attempts 

 at propagating the Protococcus. 



For this purpose he placed some of the " red snow" given him 



