52 Dr Scoresby on the Colours of the Dew-Drop, 



ticular positions in wliich the largest number of the resplen- 

 dent drops were always to be seen. 



The simplest way of finding the fitting globules for examin- 

 ation, is to turn the back to the sun and take the shadow of 

 the observer's head on the ground as the guide. Within a 

 few inches of the shadow of the head, most brilliant drops re- 

 flecting like the diamond, will be seen, and sometimes exhibiting 

 colours. But within, perhaps, a yard or two of the shadow 

 (at an angular distance of 10" or 12°), if the sun have con- 

 siderable altitude, globules of a most gorgeous character may 

 not unfrequently be observed ; whilst others, at greater dis- 

 tances, will present, by a slight motion of the head, almost 

 all the phenomena in succession of the solar arch. If the 

 globule be to the right of the observer (the back being to the 

 sun) and any colour be seen, let the head be inclined to the 

 right until white light alone is reflected. Then slowly re- 

 turning the head towards the left, a succession of colours will 

 be seen, differing, however, in their order according to the 

 number of reflections and refractions. When at a large an- 

 gular distance (such as nearly half a right angle from the 

 shadow of the head of the observer), the series I have com- 

 monly observed is bluish, like the sapphire ; pale blue ; bril- 

 liant W5/«7d?, like the diamond; straw-colour; pink; orange; 

 orange approaching to red. At this angular distance (40° to 

 60°), I have generally found the nearer drops to the eye 

 (such as those within 5 to 10 yards) exhibiting scarcely more 

 than three different or distinct colours ; but the remote drops 

 (such as those at 15 to 20 yards' distance), the variety just 

 described, might commonly be seen. 



In the globules, however, at small angular distances, al- 

 ready referred to, I have observed the reverse order of co- 

 lours. On the 1st of May of the present year, at eight in the 

 morning, the sun .being very bright, and the globules of dew 

 numerous and large, one globule was observed at the distance 

 of about a yard from the shadow of my head of singular beauty 

 and splendour. Its brilliancy when reflecting only white light, 

 outvied, if possible, that of the diamond ; and the tints whi(!h 

 successively appeared on examining it with the small tele- 

 scope, under a shght change of position, were singularly rich, 

 and indeed gorgeous^ The globule was a little to the right 



