4 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO 1750. 



was entirely of a deep crimson colour, being of a much darker red than the 

 former. 



Thence he withdrew into the garden, where he plainly saw a band or arch, of 

 a very deep crimson colour, in appearance about 1 5° broad, the southern edge 

 of which passed just above Canis Minor, and the shoulders of Orion. It was 

 terminated to the westward, near Venus, then about 20° high : but it extended 

 to the eastward as far as he could see ; and the farther it went that way, the 

 deeper was the colour, and the broader the band. About a quarter before 8, 

 there was formed a crown, about 30° to the southward of the zenith. From 

 this crown a great many rays darted to the east, south, and west, but not to- 

 wards the north, where only some whitish streaks were to be seen, but very 

 faint. Presently after this, the part of the arch extending to the east seemed 

 to be suddenly kindled, as if some train had been fired ; grew extremely bright 

 and vivid ; and as if all the red matter had been then consumed, put an end to 

 the phenomenon before eight. During the rest of the evening, a pale light 

 covered the south part of the heavens, as if the moon had shone. 



Observations made at Rome of the Eclipse of the Moon, Dec. 23, 1749; and of 

 that of the Sun, Jan. 8, 1750. By Mr. Christopher Maire. N° 4g4, p. 321. 



The place of both observations is in the latitude of 41° 54' O', and 4 seconds 

 of time eastward of St. Peter's. 



Eclipse of the moon, Dec. 23, 1740. 

 Chord of the part eclipsed 13', as deduced from the map of the 



moon 7^ 47m i8« 



Hence beginning of the eclipse 7 40 53 



End of the eclipse, as far as could be perceived through a thin cloud 10 O 1 6 



He judged the eclipse to be somewhat less than 5 digits. 



Solar Eclipse, Jan. 8, 1750. 



Beginning by a reflector of Mr. Short, Jan. 7 20'' 34" 35' 



Quantity of the eclipse 7 dig. 48' 2 1 49 4 



Again more exactly . . 7 43 21 51 28 



The sun appears for a moment; horns nearly horizontal 21 36 15 



Two digits remain eclipsed 22 55 37 



One digit exactly 23 3 42 



End of the eclipse 23 11 32 



Some Observations on the Dragon-fly or Libella of Pennsylvania, collected from 

 Mr. John Bartrarns Letters. Communicated by Peter Collinson, F.R.S. 

 N° 424, p. 323. 



About the beginning of May many deformed water-insects, by naturalists 



