886 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 
there came not only the sun-glows to which we have several times made 
reference, but also abundant rains. And in * Knowledge” of 6th June, 
Mr. Neison, Director of the Government Observatory at Natal, is quoted as 
saying that in his colony they had the sun-glows so early as February, 1888» 
but that they became most vivid on the 28th and 29th of August, and from 
91st August to 5th September, after which they vanished for four months, — 
whereas in Transvaal, 250 miles distant, they were first noticed on the 2nd 
September, and continued very vivid till January of this year. 
Evidently, we have not either heard or said the last word on this subject 
yet, and we must retain that philosophie attitude so absolutely necessary in 
many matters—suspension of the judgment. During the next few months 
the problem may become easier of solution. Some one of our members may 
then take it up again and give us the benefit of the later lights. I trust 
we may then be the better able to see our way, for the long consideration 
you have kindly allowed me to give to the matter to-night. I must indeed 
apologize for the length of my paper, ** Dum brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio." 
Brevity may be bought at the expense of perspicacity. And much as I have 
said on this subject, there is far more that can be said. It is astonishing 
with how many departments of natural science and natural philosophy the 
enquiry is connected. But, as says a great thinker, * From every natural 
fact invisible relations radiate, the apprehension of which imparts a measure 
of delight; and there is a store of pleasure of this kind ever at hand for 
those who have the capacity to turn natural appearances to account.” I 
must apologize also for treating this subject so much in the Dr. Dryasdust 
fashion. So beautiful, and weird, and heavenly a display as the recent 
evening glows should have been treated poetically,—but man is like some 
long-winged sea-birds, which rise from sand-hills with great difficulty. And 
after all, the imagination had to be kept well in hand, for, as it is, have we 
not been led by our enquiry into the volcano’s crater, and down to the 
depths of the sea, and up to the blue ether, and to the furthest parts of the 
earth 
Art. XLIX.—Red Sunsets. By Ww. Rrxewoop. 
[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 1st May, 1884.] 
- Plate XIX. 
Tue equatorial diameter of the earth is 7,901 miles, and the circumference 
is 24,825 miles, and, as she revolves once on her axis in 24 hours, a place 
on the equator moves through 1,034 miles per hour, but at any depth 
