PHYSICS OF THE GLOBE. 189 



tint retreats to the red end ; (2) the color and the polariza- 

 tion have their maximum at 90 from the sun ; (3) the total 

 intensity of the diffuse reflected skylight appears to be least 

 at about 80 distance from the sun, and diminishes thence 

 more slowly towards the horizon than towards the sun. 



In some papers on Physical Science for Artists, Mr. Lock- 

 yer introduces an explanation of the color of the skv, and 

 some criticisms on some prominent pictures in the Royal 

 Academy, which will be generally interesting to artists. 



The lunar eclipse, August 12, 1878, was studied spectro- 

 scopically by N. Maunder, at Greenwich, who observed a 

 marked absence in aqueous lines, apparently showing that 

 there was comparatively little vapor or cloud in that part 

 of our atmosphere through which the sun's rays passed. The 

 atmospheric bands were also remarkably faint. 



At the Dublin meeting of the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, we notice anions the meteoroloai- 

 cal papers one by Professor S. P. Thompson, on the Wedge- 

 shaped Radial Streaks of Light devoid of Color observed* 

 between the Primary and Secondary Bow of the Rainbow. 



An article on the History of the various Theories of the 

 Rainbow, by Reclam, is published in Gaea. He especially 

 touches upon the theories of Newton, Descartes, and those 

 who preceded them. 



The Bulletin of the Geographical and Statistical Society 

 of Mexico, vol. iv., p. 190, gives a detailed account of a So- 

 lar Halo at Zongolica on the 27th of April, 1874, a very rare 

 phenomenon in that latitude, and on that account worthy of 

 note. 



The connection between tempests and solar spots has been 

 studied by Zenger. He also finds that photographs of the 

 sun taken in the Tyrol and in Switzerland are surrounded by 

 peculiar haze and halos, which are not otherwise visible to 

 the naked eye, indicating the presence of moisture and haze 

 very high up in the atmosphere, and anticipating the occur- 

 rence of storms sometimes by ten or fifteen days (? hours) 

 (see the Franklin Institute Journal, 1878, p. 283). 



Mr. Burton has made some observations on the Spectra of 

 the Zodiacal and Auroral Lights. He used an apparatus 

 loaned by the Royal Irish Academy of Sciences, and Profess- 

 or Stokes, commenting upon the paper as a valuable one, says 



