On the Effects of Unequal Refraction at Bridlington Quay. 9 



In the afternoon of the 12th of June, about five o'clock, after 

 a clear hot day, the phenomena were first observed. All the 

 shipping, at a sufficient distance, began to loom, and were va- 

 riously distorted, and many vessels, when examined by the tele- 

 scope, exhibited inverted images immediately above them. A 

 portion of the extreme verge of the sea seemed to separate, as 

 by a transparent fog-bank, and, between the real horizon and 

 this refracted horizon, all the distortions and inverted images 

 occurred. Some of the ships were of their natural proportions, 

 with an in verted fac-simile above. Others, at distances, or in si- 

 tuations such, that the top of the masts reached more than one- 

 half the height of the refracting interval, were abridged of their 

 upper sails. One brig, nearer than the rest, only exhibited its 

 hull and courses, with an inverted resemblance of the same over 

 the top ; and what gave it a still more curious appearance, was, 

 a narrow clear space between the vessel and the image, as if there 

 were in that place (in the line of the top-sails of the brig) a per- 

 fect void. In one or two cases, besides the inverted image, there 

 was also an imperfect erect image, placed upon the upper line of 

 the horizon. Most of the vessels figured, though they appear 

 situated upon the true horizon, were, in reality, greatly more dis- 

 tant, and many of them altogether beyond the limit of ordinary 

 vision. Hence, whilst the eye was fixed upon them, owing to 

 the perpetual changes of the atmosphere, one or other of them 

 would frequently disappear, and remain for some time invisible, 

 and then suddenly start into sight as before. Objects within 

 the horizon (about six miles distant) were scarcely, if at all, af- 

 fected by the refraction. The upper or refracted horizon was of- 

 ten irregular in its outline, and sometimes broken. It was general- 

 ly dark, and well defined ; but the interval between it and the 

 real horizon was frequently more faint in its shade, as if by atte- 

 nuation. Sometimes there was a treble horizon exhibiting pa- 

 rallel streaks. The low coast of, Holderness (forming the south- 



VOL. XI. PART I. B 



