ally found in this country in the form of a thin, stain-like
stratum on the surface of rocks, or investing decayed vegetable
substances with a purplish crust. On examination
under the microscope, it is found to be composed of innumerable
spherical bodies, seated upon a gelatinous substratum.
The globules are of various sizes, probably depending
upon ago. A t first they are furnished with a wide pellucid
border, and contain a deep red homogeneous mass. As they
increase in size, this border gradually becomes narrower, and
at length altogether disappears, while the internal mass,
which at first was simple, becomes broken into numerous
distinct granules or seeds, which are finally discharged. Red
snow, we are informed by Professor Agardh in his interesting
memoir on the Protococcus *, was first observed by Dr. Saus-
snrc in the year 1760, on Mount Beven, in Switzerland, and
subsequently so frequently among the Alps, tha t he was surprised
how such a phenomenon should have escaped the
attention of other travellers, especially Scheuchzer. Ba-
mond found red snow on the Pyrenees, and the botanist
Sommerfeldt in Norway. A t the beginning of the century
it was noticed on several of the mountains of Italy, along
the Apennines; and in March, 1808, the whole country
round Cadore, Belluno, and F eltre was covered In one night
to the depth of twenty centimetres with a rose-coloured snow,
a pure white snow having fallen before and after, so that the
coloured snow formed an intermediate stratum. The same
fact is recorded at the same time in several other Italian
localities. Still red snow excited little attention among
botanists, and had not obtained a place in our scientific
arrangements until Captain Boss discovered it in Baffin’s
Bay, covering tracts of some miles in extent, and penetrating
in some places to the depth of ten or twelve feet. The specimens
brought home by this celebrated traveller were submitted
to Mr. Bauer and Mr. Brown, to be examined
* Nova Acta Phys. Med. Academias Cas. Leop Car. Nat. Cuv. vol xii.
p. 737. Translated in Grev. Crypt. Fl. vol. iv. sub. t. 231.
botanically, the latter of whom, with his usual acuteness,
decided that it was “ Algarum genus ? ? Confervis simpli-
cihus et Tremellse cruentse quodammodo affine ? ? ” The
“ local habitation ” thus assigned, has been acknowledged
by all succeeding botanists; and Agardh has completed its
history by giving it “ a name.” — Harv.
“ It is to be observed, that the same wisdom which ordained the vegetable
creation for the use of feeding and healing the body, hath apjilied
it also to a moral and intellectual use, for the enlarging of our ideas, and
the enlightening of our understandings. It joins its voice in the universal
chorus of all created things, and to the ear of reason celebrates the wisdom
of the Almighty Creator. As the heavens, from day to day and from
night unto night, declare the glory of God, so do the productions of the
eai-th; all trees and herbs, in their places and seasons, speak the same lan-
guage, from the climates of the north to the torrid regions of the south,
and from winter to spring and the harvest. Happiest of all is he, who,
having cultivated herbs and trees, and studied their virtues, and applied
them for his own and for the common benefit, rises from thence to a
contemplation of the great Parent of good, whom he sees and adores in
these his glorious works. The world cannot shew us a more exalted
character than that of a truly religious philosopher, who delights to turn
all things to the glory of God; who from the objects of his sight derives
improvement to his mind, and in the glass of things temporal sees the
image of things eternal. Let a man have all the world can give him, he
is still miserable, if he has a grovelling, unlettered, undevout mind; let
him have his gardens, his fields, his woods, and his lawns, for grandeur,
ornament, plenty, and gratification, while at the same time Qod is not in
all his thoughts; and let another have neither field nor garden ; let him
only look at nature with an enlightened mind ; a mind which can see and
adore the Creator in his works ; can consider them as demonstrations of
his power, his wisdom, his goodness, his truth : this man is greater as
well as happier in his poverty, than the other in his riches. The one is
hut little higher than a beast, the other but little lower than an angel.”—
Rev. W. Jones o f Nayland.