144 : Scientific Intelligence. 
6. The Condensation of Aqueous Vapor as a source. of 
Atmospheric Electricity —The evaporation of water and se con- 
densation of vapor have each in turn been ice Wie by many as 
up the question whether condensation of aque vapor is @ 
source of electricity. He used a Kirchhoff quadrant electrometer 
from local disturbances. The outsides of twelve large beaker 
glasses were co alits de tin foil and were filled with ice. _ 
h the ground. It was noticed that the deflections of the im 
strument were of the same sign and the same amount, whether 
the beakers were filled with ice or not. The deflections were- 
sometimes greater when the beakers were empty than when they 
were filled with ice. In order to test whether both kinds of elec 
tricity appeared at once, the condensation water was: pe. a 
+ ~ 
means 
pg apparatus we are not able to show that condensation of 
vap the formation of hail is a source of atmospheric elee 
pe fe Ann., No. 12a, 1883, pp. 614-620. 
7. Red Sunsets.—The for eign journals contain accounts of the 
peculiar sunsets which have also been noticed in America. 
the Comptes Rendus of Dec. 3d, the marked sunsets of Nov. 2eth 
nomenon. It is apparent to the observers that the se peculi sun 
ge are not auroral in character. M.M. Bertrand, Dumas and." 
’Abbadie give descriptions of the sunsets seen y them, and 
the latter Bes to the extent of the phenomenon over the earth 5 
and is inclined to attribute it to the eruption of Java. The snow 
in parts of Norway has contained a gray powder which analysis 
may prove to be of the same constitution as the dust from v0 
canic eruptions. The rosy light of the sunset is easily distin 
guished from the light of an aurora, It does not scintillate and 
has the appearance of light modified by layers of matter erate 
