CONTENTS 



PREFACE . . . v 



INTRODUCTION . . xxi 



BOOK I 



[METEORS, HALO, RAINBOW, MOCK SUN, ETC.] 

 PREFACE 



PAGE 



CONTRAST between human (moral) philosophy and divine (natural, 

 physical). The sublime character of the latter which lifts us above 

 the contemplation of the littlenesses of the earth and earthly life 

 to the knowledge of God and His nature. Compared with 

 astronomical conceptions and dimensions the world of man is but 

 as a threshing-floor, the haunt of ants. The mind of man attains 

 its true height in contemplation and investigation of these sublime 

 facts. Some of the problems thus raised ..... 3 



CHAP. 



I. Meteoric fires she-goat, kid, etc. Occasions of their appearance ; 



connection of portent with event. Explanation of the phenomena. 

 They may be due to pressure of the atmosphere. Aristotle attri- 

 butes them to the effect of terrestrial evaporation : difference of 

 density causes various outbursts of this kind. They are analogous 

 to lightning, but less violent ....... 8 



II. Halos, Produced by the light of a heavenly body striking the 



surrounding air and forming a circle as a stone does when thrown 

 into a pond. Formed far away from the heavenly body and 

 comparatively near the earth in the region of the wind. Require 

 a particular state of the atmosphere neither too dense nor too 

 thin. More frequent at night than day for this reason : by day 

 the sun rarefies the air too much by its heat. Method of dis- 

 sipation gives indication of wind or rain. Calmness a condition 

 of formation, as in the analogous case of water . . . . 12 



III. Rainbows. Generally by day, produced by inequalities of surface 

 and density in clouds. Another species seen in a burst pipe or a 

 fuller at work. Various explanations. Light and shade will not 

 explain the varied colours. Some explain the rainbow as a con- 

 fused reflection of the sun from individual drops of rain : 

 every bounded surface, large or small, thus reflects fish-pond 

 and dew-drop equally. Aristotle attributes the confusion of colours 

 to weakness of hum m sight ; parallels may be found in persons 

 whose sight is abnormally weak. As the innumerable drops, 



vii b 



