482 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 
It is noteworthy that towards evening the bluish haze- 
belt in the horizon, which I have alluded to, became more 
intense, and it was during this time that the two latter 
phenomena were noticed. 
There can, I think, be no doubt that this atmospheric 
condition was the cause of the phenomena, for such they 
may without impropriety be styled, so different were they 
to the ordinary mirage, the appearance of which is familiar 
to all who have traversed the wonderful plains of Riverina. 
There one often sees what appear to be large trees standing 
up above, and disconnected from the horizon, and while riding 
towards them for miles, perhaps at a hand gallop, hoping 
to get beneath the shade of some fine “ willows,’ and 
luxuriate in the cool shelter of their foliage, one suddenly 
comes to a few stunted“‘ Lignum bushes,” standing perhaps 
by the side of a lonely waterhole. 
In the singular shape and gradual methodical formation 
of the columnar masses at St. Helens Point lay their 
dissimilarity to the familiar mirage of the Australian 
plains. 
No explanation of their cayse can be given other than 
that they were caused by detached bush-fires, perhaps with 
quite insignificant volumes of smoke, which seen through 
the singular haze-belt took the fantastic forms the de- 
scription of which has been attempted. 
The perpendicular and regular form of the columnar 
mass and pillar were doubtless due to the existence of small 
and erect masses of smoke rising at a little distance from 
the large and more straggling volumes. The drift of the 
upper portions of the columns in opposite directions may 
have been caused, in spite of the sea-breeze blowing from 
the north-east, by the presence of a hill, which diverted 
the air-current and altered the direction of the smoke of 
the column. Another interesting feature was the absence 
of the usual suspension in the air of the mirage, for, so 
far as could be observed, there was no interruption of con- 
tinuity between the mass of smoke and.the hills behind 
which it rose. 
Again the regularity in the outlines of the mass, when 
completely formed, is an interesting and puzzling charac- 
teristic of the phenomena, as we can scarcely assume that 
the comparatively diminutive volumes of smoke which 
were the basis of the mirages took any such shape. 
The diagrams given show the mirages enlarged, or as 
they would probably have been seen from a short distance. 
Tt is possible that the outlines of the complete masses are 
a little too regular at the sides and corners, but the top 
in each case was particularly level and straight. 
