628 Marvels of the Universe 
fall on and are scattered over the shining surface of the lake. Others are magnetically attracted 
to them, and thus, petal by petal, the Ice Flower is built up. 
“ The different shapes in which crystals are found are classified into six systems, but nobody 
knows why a particular substance should adopt one form rather than another. The hexagonal 
form adopted by vapour of water, though apparently somewhat complicated, is, in reality, perhaps 
the most natural shape. A number of equal spheres placed in contact arrange themselves in such 
a way that the lines of cleavage form hexagons or equilateral triangles.” 
My old friend, Mr. Gilbert T. Walker, now head of the Meteorological Department in India, 
gave me years ago, the above note as applying to Ice Flowers. 
As soon as the sun strikes the mist it begins to evaporate, but for some time the shining rods 
of ice floating about can clearly be seen. In perfectly calm air and during intense cold these 
ies 
[G@. R, Balance. 
Photo by] 
A GIGANTIC ICE FLOWER. 
The flowers do not usually much exceed two inches, but if neither wind nor thaw nor a fall of snow interrupts their 
formation they can attain a great size. This flower was a record growth, for it measured over a foot in diameter. 
crystals are particularly large, and when neither wind nor thaw nor a fall of snow interrupts the 
building up of the Ice Flowers they reach a great size. I have measured petals three inches long 
on the St. Moritz lake. 
Ice Flowers of great beauty are often found on weeds and grasses at the edge of steep, small 
streams. They form a delicate, feather-like border, and continue to increase in size till destroyed 
by thaw or snow. On trees and palings in the neighbourhood of mountain torrents we find similar 
growths ; but often these are in valleys to the depths of which the sun never penetrates, and in 
that case much of their loveliness is absent. 
No words can convey the exquisite beauty of a field of Ice Flowers when the sun has just touched 
slantingly the sharply-pointed petals. It is as if a cart-load of perfectly-cut gems had been strewn 
around, star-like points of blue and red shining with dazzling brilliance. 
It will be recollected that Ice Flowers are merely glorified hoar-frost, but the hoar-frost we are 
accustomed to see in England is so minute in its details that the eye does not obtain the flower-like 
