XCVIII. An account of a method of observing the wonderful configurations of the smallest shining particles of snow, with several figures of them

I had a mind to examine what kind of figured particles icy concretions consisted of. I found an icy star of six rays, with long striæ joined to them on every side, (which haveing, together with the rays, angles of sixty degrees, were wonderfully adorned on both sides with other long particles) in the midst of a large vessel of rain water: but my endeavours were frustrated by the water, which adhering to the little star, as I took it up, was instantly frozen, and turned its figure, that was so exactly formed, to a crust.