Session example problem

[Andrew]

I tried the following session example

/**************T he first page - page1.php *************** ****/
<?php
// page1.php

session_start() ;

echo 'Welcome to page #1';

$_SESSION['favcolor'] = 'green';
$_SESSION['animal'] = 'cat';
$_SESSION['time'] = time();

// Works if session cookie was accepted
echo '<br /><a href="page2.php ">page 2</a>';

// Or maybe pass along the session id, if needed
echo '<br /><a href="page2.php ?' . SID . '">page 2</a>';
?>
/*************** *************** *************** ***************/

/************The second page - page2.php****** *************** ******/
<?php
// page2.php

session_start() ;

echo 'Welcome to page #2<br />';

echo $_SESSION['favcolor']; // green
echo $_SESSION['animal']; // cat
echo date('Y m d H:i:s', $_SESSION['time']);

// You may want to use SID here, like we did in page1.php
echo '<br /><a href="page1.php ">page 1</a>';
?>
/*************** *************** *************** *************** */

When I copy-paste the previous code and run it, the echo commands in
page2.php didn't print the variable values on the screen. I don't know
if I'm doing something wrong,can anyone help me?
What is the purpose of the SID when you pass it along, as in the
page1.php?

thanks in advance
andreas