Trans. N. V. Ac. Set. 60 ^^^- 1 1 , 



Resolved, That, though he has gone from among us, we should 

 be grateful that we were so long permitted to enjoy his society and 

 receive the benefit of his co-operation ; and we have the satisfac- 

 tion of knowing that the good work he has done and the shining 

 example he has left will be enduring and will constitute a noble 

 and imperishable monument. 



Resolved, That, as a permanent record of our sorrow at his death, 

 and as an expression of our esteem and affection, these Resolu- 

 tions be included in the minutes of the Academy, and published 

 in the Transactions. 



These Resolutions were then unanimously adopted. 



A paper was then read by Prof. John K. Rees, on 



THEORIES IN REGARD TO THE CAUSES OF THE RECENT RED 



SKIES. 



DISCUSSION. 



Prof. J. P. Trowbridge remarked that the theory of volcanic dust 

 appeared to him to be the most rational of all proposed. 



As to the possibility of the distribution of the volcanic dust of the 

 eruption of Krakatoa over so vast a district, he would recall some 

 analogous phenomena. He remembered, some years ago, seeing a 

 few trees on fire in Michigan. Within a few days afterward the forest 

 was in flames over a large territory, and shortly after that there was 

 alarm at Newport, R. I., and other places on the eastern coast, be- 

 cause the atmosphere was rendered so dark by smoke that artificial 

 light was required during the daytime. The smoke had evidently 

 been floated over the intervening area, in some upper stratum of the 

 atmosphere, and descended in certain places. 



The spread of the volcanic dust was probably due to the high pre- 

 vailing atmospheric currents, apparently in great atmospheric curves, 

 which would account for the course of these currents. 



He could not assent to the theory of cosmic dust. In that view, 

 the phenomena should have been simultaneous, and not locally differ- 

 ent in time. 



As to the descent of the volcanic dust, its rapidity would depend 

 upon the diameter and weight of the particles, as well as the force of 

 the upward and downward currents. Thus, in the deposit of the silt 

 of the Mississippi, the upward and downward currents within the 



