VOL. XXH.] FHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 487 



the zenith was another portion of a circle, which had the colours of the iris with 

 greater vivacity than the former. The appearance is represented by fig. -l, pi 

 12 ; where a represents the sun, bc the parhelia, with their trains, d the 

 coloured arch touching the halo bdc, e the more vivid arch that passed between 

 D and the zenith z. 



Part of a Journal from Scotland to New Caledonia in Darien, with an Account 

 of that Country. Communicated by Dr. Wallace, F. R. S. N° 262, p. 536. 

 This journal contains little or nothing that is now uncommon or interesting. 

 The account commences at Madeira, and so continues among and near the 

 West India islands, to the coast of Darien, with the usual sea occurrences. 



Abstract of a Book, viz. — y4n yJccount of the Islands of Orkney. By James 



Wallace, M. D. and F. R. S. To which is added an Essay concerning the Thule 



of the Ancients, 8vo. London. N° 262, p. 343. 



The work consists of 8 chapters. The first treats of the several names, the 

 longitudes, latitudes, boundaries, the ebbings and flowings of the sea, the 

 harbours and merchandises. The second comprehends the plants, animals, 

 and fossils. The vegetables alone amount to near 300, all or most herbaceous 

 ones, there being no indigenous trees, only here and there some planted in 

 gardens, but they prove dwarfs, seldom bearing any mature fruit ; whereas in 

 more northerly parts of Norway trees rise strong and lofty, thriving even on 

 small rocks, surrounded by the sea. 



Here are some few roses, the juniper, the myrtle, and heath, and some 

 kitchen herbs arrive here to as great size as about London, and artichokes to a 

 greater than in any other place. The little cows yield plenty of milk, and the 

 ewes generally produce two lambs at a birth, some three or four. The horses 

 are small, but strong ; great herds of swine, and rich coney warrens. Plenty 

 of most sort offish, and vast conveniences for the herring and cod trade, if any 

 ways encouraged. The natives are very healthy, and live sometimes married 80 

 years, sometimes bearing children beyond 6o. The ancient monuments, the 

 civil and ecclesiastical history, are not neglected ; in all which the author has 

 discovered a large compass of knowledge, especially on the Pights or Picts, 

 Belus, and Ganus, the ancient Norwegians, the Sinclars and Earls of Orkney, 

 the Stewards and Douglases. What he delivers of the obelisks, the causeys, 

 urns, and burial places, of the ancient state of the church of Orkney, of the 

 propagation of the Christian faith there, and of the particular customs of the 

 inhabitants, is very remarkable. 



The whole is illustrated with an exact map of all the islands, together with 



