42 Dr, €. Smallwood's, contributions to 



the night. The thermometer at 6 A.M, stood at 46°0Y degrees. 

 The terrestrial radiator had indicated a temperature of 41^03 

 degrees. The wind at 10 A.M., (mean local time) was from the 

 N.E. by E., with a clear sky, from which time light cirrus clouds 

 began to form in the higher region of the atmosphere, passing 

 from W. to W.S.W., in a direction contrary to the lower current 

 of wind (N.E. by E.) At lOh. SSm. a slight halo was seen round 

 the sun, and at lOh. 45m. it presented a very rare and beautiful 

 spectacle. The sun, bright and ivhite, was in the centre of a 

 halo or circle of 44 degrees in diameter, its lower or southern 

 limb being about 37 degrees above the horizon ; this circle was a 

 bright halo of light, white and bright at its outer edge, and 

 which was shaded inwardly and towards the sun of a pale orange 

 colour, and an occasional tint of blue and red ray nearly 2 de- 

 grees in breadth. Both the lower limbs of this halo on the edge 

 next the sun were more broad than elsewhere, giving the appear- 

 ance of a crescent on each side. This halo or bright circle was 

 filled in as it were with a dark ground, consisting of cirrus 

 clouds, which passed quickly and constantly across from a west- 

 erly direction. 



Another circle of a white colour and less bright, was also seen. 

 The circumference of the wheel was in the centre of the bright 

 halo, or more properly in the sun itself ; the ring extended be- 

 yond the zenith, and exceeded the brighter one considerably in 

 diameter. Another smaller circle was enclosed between the bright 

 northern limb of the halo and the last mentioned circle, which on 

 approaching its periphery separated somewhat, and crossed each 

 other from right to left, extending east and west for a short dis- 

 tance, and the breadth of these circles were from 1 J- to 2 degrees. 



Lower down, nearer the horizon, on either side of the halo, 

 were arcs or broken portions of an imperfect circle, somewhat 

 resembling inverted rainbows, with distinct prismatic colours 

 which varied both in brightness and extent. These appearances 

 decreased and ceased at 12h. 40m. P.M. The wind veered into 

 the S.E. by E. with an increase of temperature and a cloudy sky. 

 The following day at 11 A.M., another halo appeared round the 

 sun, but unattended with any of the peculiar appearances as 

 above noticed. 



The other solar and lunar halos and coronae, although more 

 frequent than usual, offered no peculiarities. 



