Miscellaneous Intelligence. 433 
it to be extended on our coast from one end of the continent to the 
other; and if any people shall ever carry it from our Atlantic shores 
across the continent to the coast of the Pacific ocean, | feel the strongest 
— that it will be accomplished by our countrymen ; when we 
may obtain intelligence from China in as short a time as it now reaches 
us from 
3. Halos and Parhel lia; by C. M. Tr RACY, 2 eee - this 
Journal.) —On Sunday, Feb. 22, 1852, at about 11h. 40m. a. M., a light 
fall of snow which had continued through the forenoon, ae almost 
wholly away; and the sun, being near the meridian, appeared encir- 
cled with a clearly defined i which showed strong prismatic colors. 
The estimated diameter of it was 60°. Touching it at its lower side, 
_ vertically below the sun, was an arc of a rather smaller circle, col- 
red like the other, and exterior to it. This arc was perfect some 1 
ach way from the point of contact, at which point the breadth seemed 
to exceed that of both circles together, as if an ill-defined parhelion 
were placed there; and this — was rather brighter than the rest of 
the arch. Passing snl he sun, and intersecting the first circle on 
each side, was a broad and beautiful halo of white light, perfect through- 
out, and of magnificent dimensions. rather rude measurement gave 
120° as its diameter, which appeared to be a close approximation, Taking 
hidden by a cloud. 1 carefully noticed this position of these, as it 
seemed unusual for them to stand elsewhere than at the points of inter- 
section, but as to the fact, I am quite sure. Much of the atinosphere 
was clear at the time, and the northern sky was nearly free from clouds. 
I did not see the commencement of this phenomenon, but the clouds 
must have hidden it till nearly the time mentioned. It then began to 
fade, and before 12 m., had wholly vanished, and did not tebsigae so 
that its  o. cannot he have exceeded half an hour. 
4,1 
ome 
On Fish deitrentad by Sulphuretted Hydrogen in the Bay of 
Callao by Dr. J. L. Burtt, U.S. N., (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 
vi, 1.)—One occurrence pin wunisie much interest, weave er chai 
was an evolution of sulpho-hydric acid gas (a frequent occurrence) 
from the bottom of the Bay of Callao. The first premonition of what 
was . produce a remarkable destruction among fish, was the discol- 
oration of the water of the bay, from a marine green to a dirty milk- 
white vier followed by a douided odor of the gas; so much of it being 
resent om many occasions as directly to blacken a clean piece of 
silver, and to blacken paint work in a few hours. 
The fish, during this evolution, rose in vast numbers from the bot- 
tom; and after struggli ng for some time in convulsions upon the sur- 
tacks died. 
| was particularly struck: by nis fact, that all of them during the 
time that they were under its acted in precisely the same 
manner. The first thing noticeable with _—_« to its otis _ 
Seco SES ee 105%. ce (56 
