117 



Occasional Observations. — Short entries have been made in the 

 register ; but it will be serviceable to give here a more exhaustive 

 description of them. 



Zodiacal Lights. —Theae wore developed with a remarlaible 

 degree of distinctness, especially from August to December, and 

 were visible about half an hour after sunset. Under 

 favourable circumstances, not only was the well-known glow- 

 ing pyramid to be seen in the west ,but also a smaller and 

 leSi distinct one rising over the eastern horizon. ^ The connecting 

 bi'ido-e, however, between these two, which is said to be visible in 

 dry, 'tropical, as also sub-tropical regions, could not ))e discerned, 

 neither was a zodiacal light ever to be seen before day-dawn. 



Meteors. — These phenomena were frequently observed all 

 through. At the end of the month of July, and at the beginning 

 of Auo-vist, however, they were more numerous than at any other 

 time. "The radiative point of the " Swarm " was situated in the 

 northern portion of the sky. Another less prominent flock of 

 meteors was observed on the 21st December, its radiative point 

 lying apparently in the southern part of the firmament. 



Irridescent Clouds. — A splendid phenomenon was observed on 

 the 29th December, 1891. A stratus cloud partly cirrial cover- 

 ing the sun, shone in splendid rainbow colours, green and violet 

 betno- the most conspicuous. It lasted for about two minutes, 

 and "the cloud being the only one disappeared suddenly at the 

 expiration of about that time. It occurred at 1.20 p.m., tem^ 

 perature being at the time about 104^, wind slight, in a south- 

 westerly direction. 



Surface Temperature. — Careful observations were also taken to 

 ascertain the nocturnal decrease in temperature of the surface of 

 the earth, and the temperature of the air. This was done in the 

 undermentioned way, and read-ofi in the morning before_ sunrise. 

 For that purpose three thermometers were used, one being fixed 

 about six inches above the ground, the next two feet and a half, 

 and the third five feet, and the following results were ob- 

 tained : — . 



(1) Birksgate liange.—Cam^ surrounded by high granite ranges, 

 and well protected from winds. Immediately above the ground, 

 371° ■ 



(2) At 

 east side 

 ground, 2.3° 



(3) At Barron- /ifertf/e.— Camp in an open plain, only a few 

 granite rocks some 100 yards off. Six inches above ground, 25° 



I 



I 



i 



2h ft. above ground, 39° ; 5 ft. above ground, 40° F. 



Skirmish 7/iZ/.— Camp in a fairly open plain, on the 



of the hill, about half a mile away. Six inches above 



2 ft. above ground, 24-5° ; 5 ft. above ground, 



2^ ft. above 



round, 28° ; 5 ft. above ground 



30° F. 



The c-reat difference of the three readings of the last observa- 



