Figures observed in Snow. Mr Hook

Description

Account of experiment
'Exposing a peice of black cloath or a black hatt to the falling Snow I observed such an infinite variety of curiously figured Snow that it would be almost as impossible, to draw skeme of every of them, as exactly to imitate, the curious and Geometrical Mechanisms of Nature in any one. Some course draughts such as the Coldnesse of the weather and the ill provision I had by me for such a purpose, would permit me to make, I have here added
In which I observed that if they were of any regular figures they were always brancht out with 6 principal branches, which as all of the same Flake were much of the same make; so of differing Flakes, was there observable a strong variety. But for the most part they were conformable to the Rules observed before in the figures of Urine. That is, the branches from each side of the stems were terminated in plates the branches likewise were of the same kind.
Other Observations, and my Conjectures at the causes of these strange Phenomena, I at present omit, till further tryall and observations have better informed me.'
Includes drawing of 14 snowflake shapes

Reference number

MS/215/7

Earliest possible date

1662

Page extent

3 pages