1853.] 



PARHELIA. 



227 



about fcmr P.M., at the further (south-east) end of the 

 creek ; but the valleys evidently connected, north as well 

 as south, with the other interior openings, particularly 

 towards Hungry Island. During the time the men were 

 occupied in pitching the tent and preparing supper, etc., 

 I strolled up the mountain until I almost " found my- 

 self" on a commanding eminence, about eight hundred 

 feet above the level. A cursory glance around satisfied 

 me that all my anticipations, either of advance or retreat 

 by any of these ravines, must be entirely quashed. Still, 

 as several heights easterly might serve to tie the work of 

 this season (in prospect), I determined on the morrow to 

 make an inland excursion, and place a beacon where any 

 eminence to the north-east offered, likely to afford such a 

 desirable connection. 



The fine drift-snow blown off Cape Sicie, and conti- 

 nuing suspended about that level, produced some very 

 beautiful parhelia, dividing the arc contained between 

 the zenith and horizon into three spaces, and forming 

 four illuminated spots, the prismatic colours varying mo- 



Q 2 



