332 METEOROLOGY. 



The altitude of tlie moon was about 15° ; and tlie cirrus bands crossing 

 ber disk remained apparently unchangeable and motionless. A storm 

 of rain followed before the next morning;. 



0. 

 THE ZODIACAL LIGHT. 



WELD, FRANKLIN COUNTY, MAINE. 



1853 — January 31. — On this, as well as several preceding evenings, , 

 I have observed a pyramidal column of whitish light, after the ceasing j; 

 of twilight, extending along the ecliptic from the western horizon to , 

 an altitude of 40° or more, which must be the conical body of the ; 

 zodiacal light. 



1854 — February 21. — Between 87i. and 9/i. in the evening I observed 

 the zodiacal light. Its base at the horizon was above 18° in Vv^idth, , 

 and the altitude of its vertex about 35°. 



1855 — January 14. — After the ceasing of twilight I saw the cone 

 of zodiacal light. It was very brilliant, as much so as that part of 

 the milky loay visible at that season. Its vertex was above 90° from . 

 the sun ; in fact, a faint illumination seemed to extend almost to the 

 eastern horizon. Its width at its base was more than 20°. It was 

 observed on several other evenings of the winter. 



1856 — February 2. — In the evening observed the zodiacal light; 

 it having been seen on several evenings during the preceding month. 

 It uniformly reaches about 90° from the sun, having an apparent ' 

 width at the horizon of 40°. Sometimes a faint reflection is observed '■ 

 in the east. 



1856 — February^ — After the ceasing of twilight in the evening ; 

 observed the zodiacal light. Apparent width at the horizon 40°, 

 length 10° from the sun. 



1850 — Blarch. — I saw the pyramidal column of zodiacal light on 

 every evening, in absence of the moon, during this month. It appears 

 at the horizon of a width varying from 10° to 40°, and an apparent 

 length of from 30° to 90°, and even upwards. 



1857 — January. — During this month I have frequently observed 

 the zodiacal light. Its vertex is generally not less than 90° from the 

 sun. On some very clear evenings a faint illumination may be traced li 

 to the distance of 170° or 180° from, the sun^ being visible a greater ' 

 part of the night. Its width at the horizon sometimes reaches 40°. 

 Its axis appears to lie a little above the ecliptic, or to have a small 

 north latitude ; the amount of which is difficult of determination. 



