CoLENSo. — Of a Badiant Phenomenon. 305 



Aet. XXXVI. — Of a Badiant Phenomenon : " In hoc signo 



vinces." 



A Fragment left by the late W. Colenso, F.E.S., F.L.S. 



[Read before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute.] 



Memoeandum. — 31st May, 1892 : Eeturning this day by the 

 express railway-train from Woodville to Dannevirke in a thick 

 fog, I was suddenly struck with admiration and delight on 

 seeing the exact image of the letters "N.Z.E." and of the 

 whole ornamental and coloured glasswork in the upper lights 

 in the narrow raised roof clearly and beautifully shown high 

 up in the foggy air, in altitude far above the roof of the 

 carriage, and on its eastern side. Every fine and delicate line 

 and point of tracery was most distinctly produced, without 

 any blurring or scumbling, and such was also continued, not- 

 withstanding the rapid progress of the train, throughout its 

 running in a straight direction, or in one suited to catch and 

 reflect the beams of the sun. Of course, when the carriage 

 deviated to the right or to the left the image vanished, but it 

 was sure to reappear on the train again running in that same 

 direction ; and when the train stood still at any of the stations 

 and keeping the same course the image was fixed. This 

 happened between the hours of 12.45 and 1.15, when the sun 

 had declined but little from its highest altitude (though 

 naturally low in the heavens at this midwinter season), and 

 when it was shining brightly tthrough rifts and breaks in 

 the dense fog and scattered white clouds ; at times also 

 the imagery was highly illuminated, becoming of a brilliant- 

 red colour, and largely magnified. And again, when the sun 

 shone out strongly, being quite clear of fog and of clouds, the 

 reflected images were remarkably vivid red, dazzling the eyes. 

 At such times the image of the sun itself would also be repre- 

 sented by an additional brilliant round and bright-red figure, 

 partly encircling the other reflections, on which the eye could 

 not remain momentarily fixed : this, however, was transitory. 

 Sometimes the appearance of the legend " N.Z.E.," with its 

 accompanying delicate ornamentation, was agreeably changed 

 in its colour, becoming merely dark on a dead frosty-white 

 background. And when the fog had wholly cleared away the 

 same pictures were again vividly and faithfully produced 

 against the deep-blue and clear sky : and all this show con- 

 tinued for a considerable time — more than half an hour. 



Naturally it led me to think on the famous legendary sign 

 in the sky, said to have been seen by the Emperor Constan- 

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