ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. 405 



tendant on the sun. It is this section or cone which is visible when all re- 

 flected light is cut off, and has been named the Zoidiacal Light. This theory 

 seems to account for all the phenomena which the zodiacal light exhibits. 



As the column or cone of illuminated atmosphere has apparently a visible 

 extent in the heavens, along a parallel with the ecliptic, both preceding and 

 following the sun, it has produced the delusion that it belongs to or is con- 

 nected with the heavens. A moment's reflection satisfies us that this phe- 

 nomenon as seen projected in the heavens with the starry host twinkling 

 through it may produce the same effect, and we are only able to overcome 

 this ocular deception by proving, as we have done by attentive observation, 

 that it is of this earth, or closely connected with it, from its constantly under- 

 going great changes in azimuth, phase, inclination and altitude, as well to a 

 stationary observer as to one who is passing over the earth's surface from 

 north to south, and vice versa. If it were distant or of heavenly origin, this 

 would not be the case, as these rapid changes could not then take place. 

 Therefore we are compelled to admit that we are deceived, and that its local- 

 ity must be in ihe atmosphere surrounding this globe, and be an illuminated 

 section of it which becomes visible as soon as twilight ceases and darkness 

 ensues. That it lies between us and the milky way is evident for when 

 bright it nearly eclipses that starry nebulae. This theory is in strict accord- 

 ance with all the observations yet made. 



Now it may be understood how all bodies giving sufficient light to illumi- 

 nate the atmosphere by perpendicular rays may produce an effect similar to 

 the zodiacal light, though in a much less degree. A corresponding appear- 

 ance has been seen to accompany the moon and the larger planets, and to 

 this cause Capt. Wilkcs attributes the phenomena noticed by the observer 

 of the Japan Expedition, leading him to suppose that they were produced 

 by the morning and evening zodiacal lights visible at the same moment. 



At the same meeting another paper, on the Zodiacal Light, was presented 

 by Rev. George Jones, U. S. N., the author of the theory which supposes 

 the phenomena in question to be occasioned by a ring of luminous matter 

 encircling the earth. 



Mr. J. stated, that after the publication of his Japan Observations, he felt 

 the want of still further data, and determined to go to Quito, Ecuador, as 

 the most eligible spot for this purpose. The advantages of this place are 

 that it is near the equator, is freer from clouds than lower altitudes in equa- 

 torial latitudes usually arc, and the transparency of the atmosphere at so 

 great an elevation so valuable in celestial observations. He was here en- 

 abled to see the zodiacal light not only at the horizon, but forming a com- 

 plete arc across the sky, reaching quite from the eastern to the western hori- 

 zon, and this at every hour of the night. It was sometimes so bright as to 

 resemble another milky way stretched across the heavens. He brought back 

 with him 115 drawings exhibiting the luminous arch, giving its boundaries 

 as seen among the stars, and also the centre line the brightness at the cen- 

 tral part being always decidedly greatest thence diminishing towards the 

 edges. The deductions drawn by Mr. J. from these observations are as 

 follows : 



