1826.] Scientific Notices — Miscellaneous, 75 



made by vessels approaching land. The chief distinction of 

 the light emitted by the incandescent lime, when compared 

 with that from the combustion of oil, is a dejicienci/ of the 

 yellow rays ; whereas, compared with day-light, it has the same 

 rays io excess. 



3. Butter in a Bog, 



A letter from the Viscount Dunlo, of which the following is 

 an extract, was read at the meeting of the Royal Dublin Society, 

 June 15th, 1826. 



" In a bog upon an estate of Lord Clancarty's, adjoining 

 Ballinasloe, has just been dug up a tub of butter, which, from 

 the circumstance of the wood-work having been quite rotten, so 

 as to fall off when touched, must be of great antiquity. It was 

 this morning discovered by turf-cutters at the depth of eight 

 feet from the surface of the bog. Upon probing it with a long 

 knife some hard substance was found to resist, in consequence 

 of which it was cut into two pieces. The resistance appears to 

 have arisen from a great part of it having become hard and 

 dry ; about one half of it is in this state, the rest to all appear- 

 ance fresh and good, and emitting no smell. 



*' The two parts have been put together again, and at present 

 lie in Lord Clancarty's cellar at Garbally. The marks of the 

 tub on them are quite distinct." 



4. Luminous Meteor. 



On the 2d of January, 1825, about 5 a. m. M. Antonio Bru- 

 calassi, on his return to Arezzo, observed, between S. Giovanni 

 and Montevarchi, a singular electric phenomenon. About a 

 hundred paces off^ and at the height of about ten fathoms <m.' 

 less from the ground, appeared, on a sudden, aluminous meteor, 

 of the form of a truncated cone. This meteor appeared to be 

 formed of a globe of fire situated in its fore part, which was th« 

 narrower, and which, by its rapid motion, left behind a track of 

 light, which gave it the appearance of a cone. This light 

 became gradually less intense towards the base, and seemed to 

 split into rays, issuing from the opposite extremity. The whole 

 surface of the cone was illuminated, and cast out sparks of the 

 greatest brilliancy, in brightness like the electric sparks, but in 

 the effect resembling those exhibited by fihngs of iron, when 

 thrown upon the flame of a candle. The whole length of the 

 meteor appeared to be about two fathoms, and the diameter of 

 the base half a fathom. At the centre of this base, there was 

 a total absence of light, which formed in that part a dark spot ; 

 the direction of its motion was from west to east, and nearly 

 horizontal, inchning, however, a Httle towards the earth. Its 

 motion was very rapid ; for in less than five seconds it traversed 

 a space of about 350 paces. During this passage it shed a most 

 brilliant light, so that a certaia extent of land was illuminated, 



