Bingwood. — On Red Sunsets. 387 



beneath the surface the velocity is less in proportion to that depth; 

 in like manner, if we look on the atmosphere as part and parcel of 

 the earth, at a certain height the velocity is greater in proportion to the 

 height. 



The whole world has been greatly interested during the last seven or 

 eight months by the beautiful phenomena of coloured suns and brilliant 

 sunsets, and the liveliest interest has been exhibited as to their origin. 

 Lockyer was the first, I believe, to point out the fact of the phenomenon of 

 coloured suns appearing first in the east and then gradually shifting to the 

 west. He traces them to Panama, and then speaks of them as having been 

 seen on a north and south line ; but it strikes me that after leaving Panama 

 the phenomenon passed still further westward, seen on the 3rd September 

 4,000 miles west of Panama, and at Honolulu on the 5th, and struck India 

 and Ceylon on the 8th September, thus performing more than a complete 

 circuit of the globe ; moreover, I am of opinion that it may be traced still 

 further westward, where it was seen hi lat. 24° 06' N., long. 140° 29' W., 

 by Captain Penhallow of the barque " Hope," on the 25th September, 

 having then performed 2f revolutions of the globe. 



All the information that I have collected, and from which I have com- 

 piled the following tables, has been obtained from " Nature." The time 

 column has been deduced from the time and date of the phenomena appear- 

 ing at the different stations, reduced to Krakatoa time. In some instances 

 great difficulty has been experienced, especially in reference to the time at 

 Maranham in Brazil, and at Trinidad, and it has been concluded that at 

 those two stations the times are late, because it was seen at Panama before 

 the time given at them, which we suppose to be an error. Likewise 

 in the case of the Gold Coast, in one place the date given is the 30th 

 August, and in another the 1st September, but from the general result 

 it would appear that it reached that locality about midnight 30th-31st 

 August. 



The tables, I trust, are sufficiently clear. The first column of miles 

 represents the mean diurnal velocity that the cloud travelled at between 

 Krakatoa and the different localities en route ; and in the subsequent 

 columns are given the same from each station in rotation. Of course it 

 will be understood that a small error of an hour or two in the time at the 

 stations comparatively close to the eruption would make a large difference 

 were we to show the diurnal velocity : and as I have had only a week's 

 notice to prepare this paper, I trust that any errors that may be hereafter 

 found will be treated with that consideration. 



