Meteorology of Whitehaven. 65 
In the past year 1848, with a population of 14,070, the deaths are 
505, being 1 in every 27:8 persons, or 35:8 deaths in every 1000 in- 
habitants. The average annual rate of mortality throughout England, 
in towns, is 26, and in the country districts 18 in 1000; hence the 
deaths at Whitehaven, in the years 1846, 1847, and 1848, have been in 
excess to an extent unprecedented in former years. 
THE OBSERVATORY, WHITEHAVEN, 
13th November 1849. 
Account of a Halo observed at Pictou, Nova Scotia, August 
23, 1849. By J. W. Dawson, Esq. Communicated by 
the Author. 
Complex halos, consisting of several circles and arcs, have 
not recently been so rare as formerly in this province. With- 
in the last six years we have witnessed three of these appear- 
ances. Of the two first, I believe no very accurate notes or 
figures have been preserved, at least in this part of the pro- 
vinee. Of the last and most beautiful, I now send you figures 
and descriptions. 
In the town of Pictou, the halo was attentively observed 
by a number of persons. Several sketches of it were taken, 
and the diameter of the principal circle was measured. At 
the Albion Mines, nine miles southward of Pictou, and at an 
elevation of 120 feet above Pictou harbour, the different 
parts of the halo were measured, and its whole progress 
watched by Henry Poole, Esq., an experienced meteorologi- 
cal observer. 
Fig. 1 represents the halo, as seen by Mr Poole at the 
Albion Mines. The following are his notes of its appear- 
ance, with a copy of which he has kindly furnished me for in- 
sertion in this communication. 
* Albion Mines, Pictou, Nova Scotia, lat. 45° 34’ 30’ north ; 
lon. 62° 42’ west ; Thursday, Aug. 23, 1849.—The ring A 
was visible at noon; rings B and C were visible at 33 P.M. ; 
the ares D and E directly afterward, and F shewed as 
far as the points y and s. The sun’s position was 633° 
west of true south, at an altitude of 293°, and the junc- 
* Measured with a theodolite. 
VOL. XLVIII. NO. XCV.—JAN. 1850. 1D} 
