1868.] 



363 



[Mareh. 



The death of Chester Dewey, a member, was announced 

 as occurring December 13, 1867, aged 82 years. 



J. P. Lesley was nominated as Librarian. 



Mr. Marsh described a remarkable rainbow which he ob- 

 served at Germantown, 14th August, 1860. 



About 6.45 p. M., at Germantown, the northern branch of a 

 bright rainbow. 



At between five and ten degrees from the horizon several 

 branches shot off from the inner edge of the bow (as in the an- 

 nexed figure), the longest perhaps four or five degrees in length, 

 the arrangement of the colors in each the same as in the prin- 

 cipal bow. There were certainly two or three of the branches, 

 some say five. 



A few degrees above these branches the bow disappeared (or 

 became very faint), for a space of perhaps three to five degrees, 

 above which it was verj^ bright and in its regular position. 



Obs. — Ma}'' not these branches represent the missing part of 

 the bow brought down from their normal position by some un- 

 usual refraction in air between us and the falling rain ? 



Prof. Cresson made some remarks upon phenomena of a 

 similar character observed by him. 



Mr. P. E. Chase made some remarks on the recent me- 

 teoric display, and gave his views with regard to the pecu- 

 liarities of some of the appearances observed by him. lie 

 suggested that the cloudy appearance which is often observed 

 after the train of a bolide ceases to be luminous, may be a 

 true cloud, or watery vapor, formed by the union of the 

 meteoric hydrogen with the oxygen of our atmosphere. 



Pending nominations Nos. 582, 588, 584 and 585, were 

 read. 



