876 T'ransactions.— Miscellaneous. 
eruption ; and for the fulfilment of the third condition we have electricity, 
which during the past year has been in great force as shown by electro- 
meters—incessant volcanic eruptions, a maximum development of sun-spots 
(Secchi and others offer testimony to this also), and the stri gathering 
about the setting sun. One of the three conditions (clear sky) being 
occasionally absent, the glows would naturally be intermittent. The frost 
particles in the upper air would produce the colouring by diffraction, and 
being transparent, would not hide the stars from view. The persistence of 
the phenomena through many consecutive months is certainly against this 
theory ; and the absence of the rain band is a very strong objection, but not 
so strong as it looks ; because frozen water does not produce the rain band like 
aqueous vapour: e.g., before a light rain a rain band of 70 degrees has been 
observed, but before a heavy snow storm only one of 10 degrees (F. W. 
Cory). 
All this is very plausible it must be allowed, but against it one may ask, 
Where has the upper-air moisture gone to—whether liquid or ice? It cer- 
tainly has not been precipitated, and the glows have ceased or are ceasing. 
Russia (Times, 11th July) has been excessively wet, but per contra an Eng- 
lish writer says, about July last— we are passing through a droughty 
summer, the driest we have had since the famous one of 1868;” and the 
Times sammarizes the great defects of the English climate from 1st January 
to 26th May as—(1) prevalence of cold searching dry air causing frequent 
frosts at night and (2) absence of rainfall. Nevertheless, there are many 
little facts which may be gathered all along the line telling in the same 
direction as Mr. Hazen goes. Lockyer, for example, mentions that he has 
seen a green sun through the mist on the Simplon Pass, and every one who 
has travelled in an alpine land knows the beautiful effect, which I think 
the Germans call Alpenglühen, produced by the rays of the setting sun 
falling aslant through the keen icy air upon glaciers and masses of névé 
snow. The most gorgeous as well as the softest colours play about the 
mountain peaks. Every icy crystal coruscates and flashes like a diamond, 
and the sky all around is flushed with the golden glow beneath it. I once 
saw this to perfection, standing in the valley of Lauterbrunnen and gazing 
towards the glaciers of Breithom and the Tschingel Alp. Never will the 
picture leave my memory! Again there is the strong argument drawn 
from the accounts given by those who have voyaged in polar regions. 
There, glows and coloured suns seem to be of frequent occurrence. 
Thirdly and lastly we have the voleanic dust theory of which Dr. Taylor 
gays, or rather said, a few months ago—that “there is a general consensus 
of opinion, now that the microscope and polariseope have been brought into 
the discussion of the question, that it is the true theory." It is stated in 
