TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



33 



down Sheep Lane into the market-place, at a time when there was the greatest throng 

 of business, pots and pans, fruit, vegetables, and other things being carried away ; 

 and a large stream flowed out of the market-place down Wheeler-gate, filling the 

 low kitchens in its course. The lightning was extremely vivid, and one flash struck 

 a chimney on the south-west corner of Messrs. Hodgson, Gregory and Co.'s lace- 

 factory, Canal Street, and the electric fluid, passing down the chimney shaft, set fire 

 to a quantity of cotton fibre. The room was instantly in a blaze, hut it was fortu- 

 nately discovered by Mr, Hodgson, and put out in a few minutes. Some of the hail- 

 stones were three or four inches in circumference, and were in shape something like 

 broad beans. The storm, which was confined almost exclusively to Nottingham, 

 lasted but ten minutes, and was followed by a brilliant evening. A large number of 

 panes were broken, and the low kitchens in the streets, where there was the slightest 

 descent, were filled with water." 



On the Alten and Christiania Meteorological Observations. 

 By John Lee, LL.D., F.R.S. 



On some Unusual Phcenomena. By E. J. Lowe, F.R.A.S. 



1st. An appearance about the sun seen near Highfield House. 



1850, May 28th. — The day had been fine, with passing showers, the barometer 

 above 30 inches. 



At &" 48" the phsenomenon was 

 first noticed. 



A a mock sun, elliptical, exceed- 

 ingly bright, highly prismatic, the red 

 being nearest the sun. A ray of light 

 passed through it. The distance from 

 the true sun was 24° 30'. 



C another mock sun, similar in all 

 respects to A, was formed on the hori- 

 zontal level of the sun on the E. side. 



ABC was a considerable portion 

 of a circle (a part being hid behind a 

 cloud), whose horizontal radius was 

 24° 30', and whose vertical radius 

 was 26°. 



ADC was apparently a horizontal circle of larger size ; it was distinct even to the 

 sun's edge ; it passed through the sun, and also through the mock suns. The di- 

 stance from C to E was 20°, its extreme length was 80*. 



B D was apparently a vertical circle, probably of the same diameter as A B C ; it 

 was brightest at &" 53"'. 



At 7^ 12"' the cloud had risen and covered the sun and mock suns. There was a 

 curious effect from the mock sun C ; a glare of light came from behind the cloud 

 similar to the effect produced by a fire behind a hill. 



1^ 14"" the pheenomenon disappeared. It had been apparently formed on the blue 

 sky, as no clouds were visible except those below the sun, and the sky did not even 

 appear dull or hazy. 



2nd. An appearance presented by cirri in the daytime resembling aurora borealis. 

 It occurred in 1850, June 4th, at 10 o'clock a.m. An arch of cirrus stretched across 

 from north to south, from which cirri branched off resembling streamers of aurora ; 

 upon them were five small clouds, and above this an arch passed from north to south 

 through the zenith ; within this arch were wave-like lines, which had pulsations. 

 The phsenomenon soon became indistinct. Had the appearance occurred at night, it 

 would undoubtedly have been called colourless aurora borealis. 



3rd. Curious appearance in the west after sunset. 



1850, July 28th, T"* 10". — The sky scattered over with cirrostrati and nimbi, upon 

 which were six straight and one curved band of orange-scarlet ; the latter was formed 

 about over the sun, which had set nearly a quarter of an hour before. 



1851. 3 



