XIV. 



Description of several Halosand Parhelia, ohserved at BnmswicJe, 



Maine. 



BY PARKER CLEAVELAND, 



PKOFESSOR OF MATH. AFD WAT. PHJX, IN BOWDOIIT COLLEGE 



F it is always important, that notices of uncommon events 

 should be preserved on the records of Philosophical Societies, it 

 is peculiarly so, when the causes 



of such events 



bee 



investigated in a satisfactory manner. I therefore transmit to the 

 Academy a description and figure of several remarkable Halos 

 and Parhelia, which were ohserved at Bowdoin College, Maine, 

 on the 17th March, 1815, and the i5th April, I818. 



w 



1. During the morning of the 17th March, 1815, the atmos- 

 phere was entirely free from clouds. That Parhelion, which event- 

 ually proved to he the brightest, was observed as early as 7 o'cl. 

 A. M ; about 20 minutes before 10 o'cl. A. M, all the Halos and 

 Parhelia were distinctly visible, and, for nearly 45 minutes, con- 

 tinued to present an appearance uncommonly striking and beauti- 



ful 



The ph 



gradually disappeared, in consequence of 



^. 



the condensation of vapor and the actual formation of clouds ; and 

 about % o*cl. P. M. snow began to fall very copiously. 



I did not observe the commencement of these phenomena ; but 



I am 



y fortunate in being able to avail myself of the obse 



tions of Henry Putnam Esq. of this 



bo very carefully and 



attentively ohserved all the Halos and Parhelia, during the whole 

 time of their appearance. 



