14 The Ethereal Hypothesis of Light. [Jan., 



thesis becomes a theory it will be necessary to invest the " ether " 

 with the properties of a variety of forms of known matter, in ad- 

 dition to some abnormal attributes which it is already supposed 

 to j)Ossess, and such a proceeding appears less philosoj^hical than 

 to seek in the jDhenomena connected with known forms of matter, a 

 revelation of the nature and modus operandi of " light " and its 

 constituent forces ; or failing that, to wait patiently for the dis- 

 covery of new material conditions that may render the problem less 

 difficult of solution. * 



DESCKIPTION OF THE PLATE. 



Fig. 1. — Battledore scale of Lycxna Adonis (Clifton Blue Butterfly), viewed by 

 transmitted light, magnified 250 diameters. 



-TLie same, viewed by incident light, magnified 250 diameters. 



-Another scale of Lycxna Adonis, viewed by transmitted light, mag- 

 nified 150 diameters. 



-The same, viewed by incident light, magnified 150 diameters. Colour 

 probably due to structural arrangement of particles. 



-Another scale of the same, viewed by transmitted light, magnified 150 

 diameters. 



-Scale of the same, viewed by incident light, magnified 150 diameters. 

 Colour due to pigment. 



-Scale of Vanessa Atalanta (The Admiral), magnified 150 diameters. 

 Colour due to pigment. 



-Scale of Lycxna Alexis (the Common Blue^, magnified 150 diameters. 



-" Sonnenstein," by transmitted light, magnified 5 diameters. 



-The same, by incident liglit, magnified 5 diameters. 



-Crystals embedded in " Sonnenstein,' viewed by incident light, mag- 

 nified 75 diameters. (The three upper objects in Fig. 7 are the same 

 crystal in different positions, but always illuminated by incident 

 light.) 



II. THE ALKALINE LAKES OF CALIFOENIA. 



By J. Arthur Phillips. 



Alkaxine and thermal springs abound over an area constituting a 

 large proportion of the State of California ; whilst in some extensive 

 districts, and particularly in the vicinity of the great Colorado 

 desert, the ground during the dry season is whitened by an incrust- 

 ation principally consisting of various salts of soda. 



In many parts of the country also, although alkaline springs 

 are readily found, potable water is exceedingly scarce, being usually 

 met with but once or twice only in the course of a day's journey. 



* It is only fair to Professor Tyndall, that after availing myself so largely of 

 his writings, I shoidd mention tliat his virws and spcculatious on the .suliject of 

 the ''ether," which I need hardly say are well deserving of consideiation, will 

 be found in the work just quoted, as well as in his ' Faraday as a Discoverer.' 



