74 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



known of what breadth the narrowest part of the ring appeared 

 at this place (about 54." 53' 53"" N. and about 1° 24' W.). The 

 mountains fully covered it, and I believe were higher than it a 

 little. This observation was made with a •i2-inch reflector, (New- 

 tonian) with 5-75 inches aperture. As I did not expect so rare 

 a sight, and there was not time to get the wire or divided eye- 

 piece micrometer after it was seen, T regret to say no measures 

 were taken of the heights. 



I may mention another circumstance which was not overlooked, 

 namely, the appearance of the solar spots during the eclipse, which 

 afforded the most favourable opportunity of examining them to ad- 

 vantao'e. My observations were made with the view of ascertaining 

 whether any difference in shade could be seen similar to the lunar 

 cavities, or whether anything which indicates a rise above the solar 

 surface ; but not the least could be observed, or even imagined to 

 be visible. Though I have examined the solar spots regularly for 

 ten or twelve years, I never saw them to greater advantage than on 

 that occasion. 



I will close this letter with an observation upon the aurora bo- 

 realis which was visible at this place on the 22nd of April 1836, at 

 jO'j i^S"^ P.M. It appeared directly overhead in the form of a star 

 of great magnitude of not less than 90 degrees diameter, with nu- 

 merous rays shooting every way, those to the north appearing of 

 a deep red colour. With attentive examination I could not dis- 

 cover the least darting or motion of the rays at one time, which if 

 so, is not easily accounted for by the principles of electricity. A 

 very similar appearance is represented by a plate in the Journal of 

 the Royal Institution. Your humble Servant, 



Hiali Barns, near Sunderland, May 2(3, 1836. W. Ettrick. 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 

 The next Meeting will be held at Bristol during the week com- 

 mencing on Monday, August 22nd ; the Members of the General 

 Committee will assemble on the preceding Saturday. 



METEORS OBSERVED IN INDIA IN 1832. 



The following notices are derived from " Extracts from a Journal 

 of a Residence, and during several Journeys, in the Province of 

 Behar, in the years 1831 to 1834. By Mr. J. Stephenson," which 

 appear in the Number for December, of the Journal of the Asiatic 

 Society of Bengal, vol. i v. p. 713. 

 Beautiful Meteor observed near Singhea, Tirhut, April Wth, 1832. 



At 4 hours 45 minutes a.m. and at daybreak, observed a meteor 

 in the form of a globular ball of fire, which passed through the air, 

 from west to east, in a horizontal direction, and with a motion mo- 

 derately rapid. Its size appeared to be about a foot in diameter, 

 having a fiery train of the most splendid brilliancy apparently many 

 yards long. It illuminated the country as far as the eye could 

 reach, and remained visible for five seconds, after which it exploded 



