Meteors of Nov. 13, 1834. 305 
Two well defined and tolerably brilliant rainbows, situated upon 
the right and left of the Parhelia, with their convexity towards it, 
completed this rare and interesting appearance. 
This phenomenon was first observed a little before 8 o’clock, the 
lower part of the halo being then about 2° above the horizon, its di- 
ameter descending as the altitude of the sun increased, arrived 
at its greatest degree of brilliancy and splendor 15 minutes before 
10, when it began to decrease, and finally disappeared abou. 15 
minutes before 11 o’clock, the total duration of the phenomena be- 
ing about three hours. 
The morning was extremely cold, the mercury standing at 16° be- 
low zero, and the atmosphere was uncommonly clear and serene. 
In the afternoon it became cloudy and indicated snow. 
The same phenomenon with some modifications in its appearance, 
was, I understand, observed at Fort Winnebago, 113 miles south 
west from this place, which is in Lat. 44° 30’. 
By the accompanying diagram I have attempted to convey an idea 
of the position and appearance of the halo, horizontal circle, rain- 
bow and parhelia with their reflections as they appeared 15 minutes 
before 10 o’clock. A greater number of reflections perhaps, than 
were ever witnessed at one time before, all depending upon the same 
peculiar state of the atmosphere for their existence. ’ 
March 6, 1835. 
Arr. XX.—Replies to a Circular in relation to the occurrence of 
an unusual Meteoric Display on the 13th Nov. 1834, addressed 
by the Secretary of War to the Military posts of the United 
States, with other facts relating to the same question; by A. D. 
Bacue, Prof. of Nat. Philos. and Chem. in the Univ. of Penn- 
sylvania. 
Havine found that the inference drawn from my observations on 
the morning of the 13th of Nov. 1834,* at Philadelphia, was di- 
rectly opposite to that to which Professor Olmsted had been led, 
from his observations at New Haven, I felt naturally desirous to 
determine what might have been the extent of country over which 
* See this Journal for January, 1835, p. 337. 
Vol. XX VIII.—No. 2. 39 
