56 METEOROLOGY. 



These Coronae are sometimes accompanied by Parhelia 

 or Mock-suns, which latter are formed by the reflection 

 of the sunbeams, in a cloud appropriately situated for 

 that purpose. The Mock-suns appear of a bright white, 

 and of the same size as the true sun ; when many of 

 them appear together, some of them are brighter than 

 others. They are sometimes tinged with the colours of 

 the rainbow, and often appear to have one or more fiery 

 tails. These phenomena have been repeatedly observed 

 in North America, where they have remained visible for 

 several hours. They have made their appearance in 

 England, but their visits are very rare and uncommon. 

 According to our old chroniclers Jive suns were seen at 

 once in the year 346 ; three also were seen in 812 ; three 

 in 953, and Jive in 1233. Lilly mentions three seen in 

 1644, and three in 1648. Of late years they have not 

 been seen in England at all. A similar phenomenon 

 sometimes attends the moon ; this is called a Paraselene. 



Fiery meteors of a very wonderful and striking ap- 

 pearance often visit our atmosphere, but their origin is 

 unknown.* A meteor appeared in 1783, which, from 

 its having been seen nearly at the same instant over the 

 whole of Europe, was calculated to be more than 10O 

 miles high, and as large as Great Britain. A meteor as 

 large as the moon appeared in the western counties of 

 England in 1832 ; its light for a short time was intense. 

 Luminous clouds are often seen, but their origin is un- 

 known ; one in Java, in 1772, destroyed a district twenty 

 miles round, and killed 2000 persons. 



A meteor like a falling star, sometimes appears darting 

 rapidly through the air ; this is -supposed to be an elec- 

 trical phenomenon, as it takes place when the air is in a 

 state of electric excitement. 



Stones called deroliths sometimes fall from the at- 

 mosphere, concerning which there are various opinions, 



* Myriads of Meteors have appeared within these few years at 

 stated periods, viz. on the 12th and 13th of November, which have 

 illuminated the heavens for hours ; sometimes apparently of the size 

 of Venus, Jupiter, and even of the full moon ; these are not only 

 visible to particular places, but have been seen nearly over the whole 

 of America and Europe, and also on the Red Sea. 



