VOL. LXXX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 631 



Streamers ; the ring had no vibratory motion. Its zenith distance on the meri- 

 dian south 11°. Kimbolton is 63 miles n. n. w. of London, latitude 52° 20'. 



VI, On a Luminous Arch. By J. Franklin, Esq., of Blockley. p. 46. 



Mr. F. states that on Feb. 23, 1786, he observed a very odd appearance in 

 the heavens about a quarter before Q that evening. He was much surprized to 

 see a white light, broader than a rainbow, pass across the heavens from east to 

 west. It was a bright white light, about 5° wide in the zenith, and gradually 

 coming to a point both ways. The eastern point terminated between Arcturus 

 and the bright star in the knee of Bootis. The western point came nearly to 

 the star marked a in the Whale's mouth. The southern side of the light was 

 about 5° above Castor, passing eastward above Berenice's hair, and westward near 

 Aldebaran, and through the Hyades. He observed it till 9 o'clock. Aldebaran 

 was south of it when he first saw it ; but it passed, and got north, before 9 

 o'clock. At 5 minutes past 9, no more of it was to be seen. It gradually went 

 off in a few minutes. The sky was very clear from clouds, and the stars shone 

 bright. 



VII. Of some Luminous Arches. By Edward Pigott, Esq. p. 47. 

 Being at Kensington on Feb. 23, Mr. P. saw, at 9 o'clock at night, a very 

 singular, luminous arch in the sky, about 4° in breadth, resembling much a bright 

 white cloud, drawn out in great length, or something like the uncoloured 

 northern lights, without flashes, but seemingly of a more substantial texture ; 

 the stars appeared very bright through it ; it probably had already existed some 

 time. At about 9*^ 7™ he noted its track thus : it was visible very near the 

 horizon in the n. e., passing between Arcturus and n Bootis, almost covered 

 the cluster of Coma Berenices, and j3 Geminorum, then passed to the south of 

 Aldebaran, over the stars o, g, or tt Orionis, where its light was fainter, and 

 disappeared a few degrees lower. Though its first appearance was that of a 

 beautiful regular arch, after a few minutes, its form had varied a little, and be- 

 came rather twisted, so that PEL was sometimes to the north or south of its cen- 

 tre, without being uncovered. At 9f^ its light was much fainter, broader, and 

 more crooked. At 9^ 40"^ its length was decreased, extending only as far as the 

 Gemini's feet. It also had moved to the south of the cluster in Berenice, and 

 of (311, passing through Cancer. Its breadth at this time was considerably in- 

 creased, perhaps to more than double what it was at first, and its brightness 

 much faded. The southern side became flaky, having about half a dozen parts 

 hanging down, not unlike the tails of comets, the north side remaining even ; 

 it seemed approaching towards its dissolution. The north horizon exhibited a 

 faint aurora borealis. Among the phenomena of this kind recorded in the 



