On the IVlld Goat of the Alfi. 153 



its lo\Ve(t part difiippears from the eve, behind a mafs of va- 

 pour fo coiidenled that it cannot be diftinguiflitd from the 

 Iky above or the water below. 



I entertain no doubt, that this is the real caufe of all the 

 phaenomcna of this kind, as I have never been able to com- 

 prehend how fuch phaenomena could be produced by re- 

 1 raft ion. 



When the obje*?ts which are fccn under water appear ele- 

 vated in different degrees, it mav be readilv conceived that 

 the rays of light proceed from the water, which is very denfe, 

 into air, which is much rarer. When we fee tlie celeftial 

 bodies above the horizon, while they are aftualiy below it, 

 we may eafilv conceive that the ravs of light, proceeding in 

 an oblique direction, fonietimes pafs through rarer and fome- 

 tinies ihrovigh denfer ftrata of the atniofphere. But, in the 

 prefent cafe, there is no difference in the fpecific denfenefs or 

 rarity, and the correfponding power of refraction of the 

 medium through which the ray of light is tranfmittcd to the 

 eye ; and if an aftual elevation takes place by refradlion, the 

 aAion muft be equally great from water or from a lake, and 

 on the objefts opjiofite to them : conlequently the whole mafs 

 of thefe ohjeds muft appear equally elevated, without any in- 

 terruption being obfervcd in them. 



I Ihall here add, that I have been very often deceived in 

 thefe moors, fo that I thought I faw at a great diftanee lakes 

 and rivers, where my drivers afliired me there was nothing of 

 the kind. This was always the cafe in the morning, and 

 when the fun by Handing over the objc6l gave rife to the 

 illufion. Had not the horizon on thefe occaiipas been bor- 

 dered with a row of fmall hills, I Ihould certainly have be- 

 lieved that I faw not only a piece of water, but even the 

 lieavens. The hill prevented me from feeing at one view the 

 heavens and the luminous vapour, and the vapour feen alone 

 appeared to me as an extended piece of water illuminated by 

 the reflection of the heavens. 



XXVIII. Dtfcripiion and Natural Wijlory of the Ulld Goai 

 rf the Alps. By M. BiiUTHOUT Van Bjerchhm jun.* 



JL HE wild goatofthc Alpsfis ftill little known to natural- 

 ifts, though mentioned by fevcral authors. As it lives on the 



• From Mimoires de la Soricte dcs Sciences phyfques df Laujanne, 

 vol. ii. 



t Cu/jrai/^rx, Erxicbcn Sift. Reg. p. 261. Linn. Ilift. Nat. p. 95. 

 Lc Bomiuiiin, liuttunjVol. xri.p. ijfr. 



fummits 



