376 Transactions. — 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 striae 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. 

 Eussia {Times, Ilth 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 summarizes 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 Alpengluhen, produced by the rays of the setting sun 

 falling aslant through the keen icy air upon glaciers and masses of neve 

 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 volcanic dust theory of which Dr. Taylor 

 says, or rather said, a few months ago— that " there is a general consensus 

 of opinion, now that the microscope and polariscope have been brought into 

 the discussion of the question, that it is the true theory." It is stated in 



