68 
imixed first and second; this will give soe idea of what the 
cost will be. 
After Munich the regular trains may be relied on; one can 
leave Munich at 9.50 P.M. (first and second class), pass Inns- 
bruck, and crossing the Brenner in the early morning descend 
the Italian side in the forenoon, getting to Verona at 1.20 P,M.; 
or by leaving Munich at 10.15 A.M. (first, second, and third class) 
one may get to Verona at 5.50 A.M. next day ; but in this way 
one misses the best of the scenery. The fares from Munich to 
Verona are about 37s., 25s., and 18s. 
The way, then, is to Padua, Bologna, Pistoia, and so either 
to Florence or to Leghorn (by Pisa); from Florence to Rome, 
passing by Lake Trasimene ; from Leghorn to Rome by the 
coast line, or else straight to Messina or to Naples, and then to 
Messina, by one of Rubattino’s boats, which leave almost daily. 
From Rome one goes to Naples by train, and thence by boat to 
Messina; passing close to Stromboli. Some of the boats go on 
to Catania, but it is advisable to land at Messina and take the 
train, as often the steamer cannot get into the harbour at Catania, 
in which case it goes on to Malta. The railway fares from 
Verona to Naples come to about £4 tos. first ; £3 55. second ; 
and £2 5s. third class. 
By travelling almost incessantly one should (supposing the 
trains regular) get to Naples from London in five days and six 
nights by this route: no time_is lost by spending a night at 
Cologne. 
At Messina, the Custom House authorities are usually rather 
troublesome, but one does get off at last, and, passing along a 
most exquisite coast-line, arrives at Catania (Kar’ Atfrvn). 
The hotel at which to stay, if possible, is the Grande Albergo, 
kept by Herr Werdenberg, where there is every comfort, the 
very small salon being redeemed by the fine billiard-room. The 
front rooms face towards the north, and are cold and unsuited 
for invalids, but they (especially those of the third story) afford 
a most splendid view of Etna, the sunrises and sunsets seen from 
them being superb. The rooms at the back are much warmer, 
but of course give no Sight of Mongibello. The Grand Hotel 
Central is an Italian establishment in the Piazza dell’ Universita, 
and may be considered to be the second, though much inferior to 
the first-mentioned house. 
In Catania itself a good post of observation would probably 
be the Giardino Bellini on the Corso ; it is high and sufficiently 
large. 
To go to Nicolosi a two or three-horse carriage is necessary. 
There are at this village two inns, one at the entrance to the 
village (not to be recommended), the other one, which is_prefer- 
able, farther on in the village. The accommodation is of a very 
primitive description. Everything should be taken from Catania, 
ef as can be got at Nicolosi. 
from Nicolosi one can yisit the Monti Rossi (in half-an-hour 
or three-quarters), from which one has a magnificent view, and one 
can, if one is curious enough, go down into a hole, known as the 
Fosse dei Palumi, a volcanic vent. 
It is from Nicolosi that the ascent of Etna is made, and a des- 
cription of an ascent, under especially favourable circumstances, 
will be found in the number of NATURE for June 23 last. 
The best guide is Pietro Cravagna, who knows the mountain 
thoroughly, and who also speaks tolerable Italian ; he is in every 
way to be trusted, and if another guide be necessary, it will be 
well to let Pietro find him. The writer was on one occasion 
subjected to great annoyance from the incompetence of one of the 
so-called guides. . ' 
The Casa del Bosco, about two-and-a-half-hours’ ride from 
Nicolosi, is uninhabited during the winter. A fire of sticks may 
be made there, and a few plates, &c., will be found ; the key 
must be got at Nicolosi; there is plenty of good water close 
at hand. This house might be used for purposes of obserya- 
tion; it has two rooms, and an outhouse for the mules, 
The Casa degli Inglesi, near the top of Etna, is almost sure 
to be buried in the snow. . 
In descending from the summit it may perhaps be possible to 
go down into the Valle del Boye, and return to Catania by Zaf- 
farana. ‘Those who yisit Sicily should not return home without 
stopping a day or so at Taormena (between Catania and Messina), 
and seeing a sunrise from the ruins of the theatre. 
Wi dienes 
The Spectrum of the Aurora 
As some of your correspondents Seem scarcely aware of what 
has already been accomplished jn observation of the auroral 
NATURE 

ok 
[Wov. 24, 1840 

pe perhaps I may be pardoned a few remarks on the 
subject. 
The line usually most prominent in the auroral spectrum is a 
yellowish green one, the wave-length of which was measured by 
Angstrom as 556°7, and its position by Professor Winlock as 
1280 on Huggins’ scale, which, reduced to wave-length, closely 
agrees with the determination of Angstrom. 
Angstrom also observed the same line in the spectrum of the 
zodiacal light, in March 1867, but it seems possible it might be 
due to faint aurora concealed by the light. He says that “it 
is a remarkable fact that this bright band does not coincide with 
any of the known rays of simple or compound gases which I 
have as yet examined.” The wave-length of HB is about 
486'2; much less than that of the auroral line, Angstrom also 
saw three very feeble bands near H B (F). 
Professor Winlock (American Fournal of Science, Novy. 
1869,) states that in addition to the line at 1280 Huggins’ scale, 
he saw six faint bands, viz,, at 1400, 1550, 1680, near F, 2640, 
and near G. 
In the American Fourna: of Science, Sept, 1869, it is stated 
that during the solar eclipse a bright{line was seen in the spectrum 
of the corona at 1474 of Kirchoff’s scale, and that it coincided 
with an auroral line. 1474 Kirchoff corresponds to about 1550 
Huggins’ scale. 
I have also somewhere seen it stated that the auroral line at 
1280 coincided with a telluric line in the sun’s spectrum, which 
might be possibly due to oxygen. 
I have myself seen several feeble bands between the green line 
and F, but owing to their faintness have not yet been able to 
determine their position with much accuracy. ‘ 
The red line which was so bright in the aurora of the 24th and 
25th ult. is only occasionally visible. Mr. T. W. Backhouse has 
observed it repeatedly, and informs me that it is sometimes visible 
when the aurora does not appear red to the eye, but that he 
never recollects seeing it when some part of the sky was not red. 
This quite agrees with my own experience. As your correspond- 
ent, ‘‘ T. F. ” observes, the red line probably belongs to a spectrum 
distinct from that of the green line, and may be due to some 
other gas. It may, however, be only a fresh line of the same gas 
due to different temperature. Its position from repeated direct 
comparison is about *4 of the distance from Ha, to Na. as I 
stated a week or two since. It is, therefore, not identical with 
Ha, to which the ordinary red light of ignited hydrogen is due. 
Changes of pressure and temperature do not affect the position 
of lines, but merely influence their breadth and intensity, making 
new lines visible and expanding old ones. Sometimes, as in the 
well-known case of nitrogen, an entirely fresh spectrum is pro- 
duced; but while any line remains visible its position is un- 
changed. 
none of them have a line in the position of the auroral one. 
I am at present engaged in a little research on the spectra 
of certain gases in relation to that of the aurora ; but it is not 
yet sufficiently advanced for publication. ey 
It is particularly desirable that the positions of lines should be 
accurately determined. In the case of the aurora I am acquainted 
with no better method for doing this than by comparison with 
such a spectrum as the band spectrum of N. This is a most con- 
yenient natural scale, with thirty or forty brilliant bands; and may 
readily be obtained from a small tube containing rarefied air or 
nitrogen, by the aid even of a Ruhmkorff’s smallest coil. 
With regard to the spectroscope, a simple flint glass prism 
fitted to a tube carrying an adjustable slit, and without any 
lenses, gives a brighter spectrum than any other form of instru- 
ment that I am acquainted with. : : 
Henry R. Procrer 
Clementhorpe, North Shields, November 12 
The November Meteors 
ON the nights of the 12th, 13th; and 14th of November fhe 
sky was constantly watched from 5 P.M. to 7.30 A.M. The 
weather throughout was most unfavourable. 
On Noy. 12th it was completely overcast from 7 P.M. to 
7.30 A.M. : 
On the 13th from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. the amount of cloud wa 
zs, and only ohe meteor was seen. ‘The Sky was then obscure 
until near I A.M. of the morning of the 14th. 
Noy. 14th, from 1 A.M. to 3.50 A.M., the amount of cloud was 
{% and four niétéors were seen, two starting from near 7 Leonis. 
first 
4 
« 
Hydrogen gives several such spectra, but I believe © 
