178 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



parhelia, or mock-suns, and paraselenes, or mock- 

 moons, are only representations by the reflection of 

 the face of the true sun or moon from some of the 

 clouds, which are placed at a convenient distance to 

 produce the effect. 



The Uses of Atmospheric Phenomena, 

 Meteors, fyc. 



Without entering upon the vast utility of the winds 

 in the world of art, with the many purposes to which 

 they are made subservient arid applied, in navigation, 

 agriculture, manufactures, trade and commerce; or 

 recapitulating what we have already said respecting 

 their vast import in the preserving the equilibrium 

 and salubrity of the atmosphere, we w r ill briefly ob- 

 serve, that the wind may be said to act the important 

 part of Nature's great husbandman, by scattering 

 abroad the productive principles of a multitude of 

 plants ; and, instead of that imaginary water bearer 

 which the ancients traced out among the stars, the 

 eye of modern philosophy has discovered, in the ope- 

 rations of the wind, a real Aquarius in the heavens, 

 bearing about his precious treasures, and dispensing 

 them where most wanted. 



Electricity is, indeed, a most powerful agent in 

 nature, and we are probably but acquainted, as yet, 

 with a small proportion of its wonderful effects ; but, 

 from what we do know, we have reason to conclude 

 that the benefits to be derived from this all pervading 

 principle are numerous as the appearance it puts on ; 



