III. How the Snow, whereof Clouds con∣sist, is condensed. To understand the way how the Clouds come to be condensed, we are to suppose that the Heat which commonly rarefies most Bodies, doth not∣withstanding condense that of Snow; whose Parts are so separate from each other, that the least agi∣tation is sufficient to bring them together. Whence it comes to pass, that when the Air, which is near the Earth, and is always more hot, than that which is at a greater distance from it, comes to elevate it self to the Clouds, either by the Force of some VVind that carries it along, or by the Action of some new Fermentation, which causeth it to swell, it is necessary that it condense the Snow, whence the Clouds are composed.
IV. How Hail is produc'd, and what is the fi∣gure of it. The Flocks of Snow are of a white Colour, because the watry Matter, whereof they are com∣posed, contain a great deal of Air; and its pores are so disposed as to reflect the Light, rather than to afford it a free passage, as Ice doth. But if these small Flocks, after that they are melted by warm Air, do afterwards meet with other Air that is cold, and by it are congealed; then they turn to Hail, whose Stones are of a different Figure, according to the various Solution of the Flocks. For if the Cold wind, that congeals the Hail, doth meet with the Flocks of Snow, when they are almost dissolved, but not yet rounded into Drops, then they obtain an Horned figure; and when the wind meets with the Drops of water already formed, it produceth little transparent round Pellets, save only that commonly they are somewhat flattish on that side where the wind beats upon them.
V. Why the Hail is sometimes of a Coni∣cal figure. So that from the divers degrees of Heat where∣with the Air is agitated, and whereby the Cloud must be dissolved, there ariseth a great variety of Effects. For if the Heat, which by the Cold wind is driven into the pores of the Flocks, and penetrates their inmost Parts, chance to drive them towards the Center and condense them, whilst the External parts being become stiff and bound by the Cold, cannot follow, they must of necessity be slit, according to Right lines tending to the Cen∣ter; and as the number of these Slits do increase, as the Cold penetrates deeper, they must at last fly in pieces, into many longish and Pyramidal particles, which are so many Hail-stones, which at the first approaching of VVinter, fall down to the ground, especially if a Spring▪like constitution of the weather have gone before.
VI. Why it seldom Hails in Winter. For it is apparent, that it cannot Hail much in the Winter; or if it doth, the Stones cannot be great. The Reason is, because during that Season there is seldom heat enough so high as the Clouds to melt them; but only when they are so low, as that being melted, or near melted; they have no time to be congeal'd again before they reach the Earth. Whence Hail may be described to be a Cloud that is melted, either whole or in part, and being driven downwards by its own weight, becomes so congealed by a Colder wind, that it falls down commonly in round and transparent Pellets.
VII. Whence the different Figures of Hail do proceed. The Hail-stones are sometimes of an Oval figure, viz. when a melted or dissolved Cloud is stronger comprest on one side, by the wind, than on the other. Sometimes they are rough, by rea¦son of many Angles, which happens when a Cold wind seizeth the Flocks of Snow as they are m••lting, but before they▪ are turn'd into round Drops
of Rain. To which may be added, that the Hail-stones are sometimes so violently dash'd against the Earth, as thereby to be broken to pieces, and so lose their Natural figure.
VIII. The various Figures of Snow. But much more wonderful is the figure of Snow, which sometimes is Hairy, as in M and Z, some∣times Six-corner'd, and consisting of 6 equal Rays, like Stars, as in O; sometimes like a Rose, as at Q; sometimes in the figure of 6 Rays, or like 3 Rods laid Crosswise, which like greater Branches, shoot out lesser Branches from them, the broadest whereof are nearest to the Center, so as to reach and entangle one another; and the shortest or narrowest towards the Top, ma∣king a Corner'd or Angulous Ray or Beam, as in R.
IX. How Snow comes to be of a Hairy figure. HAIRY-SNOW MZ, is produc'd, when the particles of Ice, which constitute the Flocks of Snow, being condensed by the heat of the Air, and several times after congeal'd by the Cold, whirl round their own own Centers in the Air: In which motion they are cover'd with some longish and slender particles of Ice, as with Hair, and so exhi∣bit the figure of Hairy-Snow.
X. How Snow comes to be formed into the figure of Stars. Snow of a 6 Corner'd or Starry figure, O, is formed, when the Wind, which hath dispos'd the Flocks of Snow into the form of Leaves, by pas∣sing freely betwixt them, doth melt the particles of Waters, that stand upright like Hairs; so that afterwards insinuating it self into the 6 Corner'd Spaces, it melts the most subtil and loose Snow that is about the Circumference of them; and the par∣ticles of Water, being agitated by the force of heat, joyning themselves with others that are not melted, do presently congeal them; and so their Hair-like Extremities being bent this way and that way, the Flocks grow less, and are changed, as it were, into a small plate of Ice. And as to those Hairy promi∣nences, which are melted in the Circumference of these Intervals, these become condensed, whilst they withdraw themselves towards those which joyn every one of these Flocks, to 6 others that surround it: By which means 6 Breaches, or Slits, are made in the 6 parts of the Circumference, where the Heat is most predominant.
XI. How the Flocks of Snow are formed into the Figure of Roses. Snow is formed into the figure of a Rose, Q, when the Heat of the Air is somewhat greater, than what we just now supposed: For then dash∣ing against these 6 prominent Points, it makes them shorter; and causeth the plate of Ice, which before resembled the figure of a Star, to become like a Rose with 6 Leaves, the points being round∣ed like the Teeth of the Wheels we see in Watches.
XII. How the Flocks of Snow come to resemble Lillies. If the Flocks, whereof Snow is composed, be bigger than ordinary, it may happen that by this means it may be not only divided into 6 places, in order to the forming of 6 points; but that also every one of those 6 points, be divided into 6 others, by the intervening of 2 Breaches or Slits, from the Hairy prominences or Capillaments, which reach the Capillaments of another Flock of Snow: So that by this means 2 points might be formed, bending outwards; because the Heat there acting with more vehemence, produceth a greater Con∣densation: And thus instead of one Starry-point, or a Rose-leaf, there must appear the Leaf of a Lilly, as is represented in R.