394- IntelUgeiice and Miscellaneous Articles. 



During the latter part of the eclipse, from 3 p.m., the upper cur- 

 rent was steadily from the N.W. The most interesting portion of 

 the observations is that relating to the white glare, which was evi- 

 dently due to the diminution of heat. A beautiful stratum oi cirro- 

 cumulus passed over between[8 and 9 in the evening. I was not able 

 to observe its motion. The white glare was very prevalent during 

 the morning and forenoon, but the atmosphere was quite clear at 

 the commencement of the eclipse. 



The above observations may be divided into four portions, namely, 

 those previous to the commencement of the eclipse ; 2nd, from this 

 time to 3 hours; 3rd, between 3 hours and 3 hours 45 minutes; and 

 lastly, those taken after that period. The first period was charac- 

 terized by considerable haziness in the atmosphere, which was the 

 only modification of cloud observed until ] 1 hours 15 minutes, when 

 cumulus began to form the haze; then gradually diminished as the 

 cumuli increased, and when the eclipse commenced the sky was 

 free from haze, but much diversified with cumuli, which were very 

 prevalent, their motion being north by east, while the lower current 

 was due east. 



The second portion was characterized by the prevalence of cu- 

 mulus, with an otherwise clear sky. The third portion was the most 

 interesting, as the effect of the eclipse on the state of the atmo- 

 sphere was nowexhibited. The most striking feature consisted in the 

 production of a white haziness that filled a space around the sun of 

 about 40 degrees in diameter ; this was first noticed at 3 p.m., and 

 appeared evidently due to the diminution of temperature occasioned 

 by the interposition of the moon. I have used the term white glare, 

 by which Sir John Herschel designates the hazy appearance observed 

 around the sun in his observations of the summer solstice, December 

 21 and 22, at the Cape, inserted in the Athenaeum of May 14th. This 

 appearance continued visible until 3 hours 45 minutes, so that it dis- 

 appeared about the same time after the greatest obscuration as it 

 appeared previous to it : at the commencement of this portion of the 

 observations the lower current was north-east, the upper current 

 having varied to north-west ; during it the lower current changed to 

 south-east, but the clouds kept moving steadily from north-west. 

 Another interesting feature at this time was the clearing of the at- 

 mosphere of clouds, similar to that which takes place on a fine sum- 

 mer's evening after a fine day similar to the present, when the fair- 

 weather cumulus alone is observed : as the temperature declines, less 

 moisture is exhaled from the surface, consequently no more cumuli 

 are formed, gnd a clear evening follows. A precisely similar phae- 

 nomenon was observed on the present occasion, but at a much earlier 

 period : this was also probably due to the diminution of temperature. 

 Nothing occurred to mark the fourth period, except a beautiful 

 stratum of cirro-cumulus, the largest variety which was noticed : be- 

 tween eight and nine in the evening it passed over rapidly j I did 

 not particularly observe its motion, but it was from the western ho- 

 rizon. 



