198 Foreign and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



20. PECULIAR FALL OF SNOW. (Mr. Sherriff.) 



On Saturday, the 20th instant, (Feb. 1830,) it commenced snowing 

 here (East Lothian) about eight o'clock P.M., and continued till twelve, 

 about which time there arose a very violent storm of wind, accom- 

 panied with a heavy shower of sleet and rain, after which another 

 fall of snow occurred. On the morning of Sunday (21st instant), 

 the frost was pretty keen, and there was a slight crust found on the 

 surface of the fallen snow. 



The fields presented a very uncommon appearance, being thickly 

 studded with snow-balls varying from a foot to a foot and a half 

 in diameter. The field, in which I first observed them, has a gentle 

 declivity from south to north, but this I think is inadequate to afford 

 a satisfactory explanation of their formation, as the hollow tract 

 which they had formed in the snow I observed to be from west to 

 east ; the wind was from the west. 



I afterwards observed them in fields quite level. In one village 

 in particular, which had an exposure to the west, they were exceed- 

 ingly numerous, being not above a yard and a half separate from 

 each other. I did not minutely examine the internal structure of 

 them, but I saw one which had been cut through the middle by the 

 wheel of a gig, and it did not appear to be composed of any thing 

 but snow, having no hard body for an internal nucleus *. 



21. ELECTRICITY OF THE WINDS. 



In the Mediterranean. Mr. Black ascertained by numerous observa- 

 tions, that winds or currents of vapour of some continuance from 

 an extent of sea, are negatively charged with electricity ; while those 

 from the land, especially from hilly countries, are relatively in a 

 positive condition. When opposite winds, such as north and south, 

 are differently charged with electricity, and meet, a transfer of the 

 electric matter is always the consequence f. 



22. IRISED AURORA BOREALIS. 



The following particulars of a phenomenon of this kind are from an 

 account sent by James Bowdoin, Esq. to Professor Silliman. About 

 nine o'clock on the 8th of September, 1827, (place, Augusta in 

 Maine,) a bright and well defined arch appeared extending towards 

 the east and west, whose crown was about 45 above the northern 

 horizon. It almost instantly disappeared. Then pencils or rather 

 columns, perfectly irised, were seen very strongly resembling regular 

 segments of a fine rainbow in the disposition and arrangement of 

 colours and in shape, although in some other particulars having the 

 appearances of clouds so illuminated. Each of these pencils or 

 columns, the sides of which were parallel, and their ends regularly 



f Mag. Nat. Hist., ii., 468. 



