AQUEOUS PHENOMENA OF THE PRAIRIES. 133 
Figs. 11-14. apt views of epidermis a micas discolor, from first appearance 
mata to maturity of the 
Fig. Th: ie edie of about the age of. Ne ge 2, b. 
Fig. 18. i ee section of the 
X 400. e arrows indic: ir ne direction of the point of the leaf. 
AQUEOUS PHENOMENA OF THE PRAIRIES. 
BY PROF. H. W. PARKER. 
Tur igneous scenes of the prairies have become very common 
place in description. But where is there any account, either scien 
tific or popular, of the interesting aqueous phenomena, in winter 
and in summer? 
How it may be in the region protected on the north by the Lake 
Superior highlands and affected by the air of the lakes, the writer 
does not know, except that the temperature is much modified. 
But in central Jowa intense cold is of frequent occurrence, and there 
are conditions along with it that often bring out the splendors and 
wonders which we associate with arctic scenes. Parhelia, or mock 
suns, at morning or evening, are common ; without exaggeration it 
may be said that they equal the real sun in brilliancy, and are in- 
deed blinding to the sight. After witnessing them, an eastern man 
regards all that he has seen of this phenomenon at the east as in- 
significant. So likewise, mock moons, and both lunar and solar | 
halos, crosses, and far-extending complicated circles of light, with 
bright spots at the intersections, may be mentioned as sights by 
no means unusual, and often of great magnificence and duration, 
continuing a good part of the day or night. The writer remem- 
bers, for example, a circle passing through the sun and reaching 
horizontally quite around the sky, making part of a cross inscribed 
within another circle around the sun, there being also four tangent 
circles at the ends of the cross; and this was visible for several 
hours before and after midday. The cloudless sky of the West 
conspires with spicules of frozen vapor, to render these effects not 
rare; for the West, at least beyond the vicinity of the lakes, is 
bright and sunny at all seasons. 
Feathery crystals, frequently of great size and beauty, and com- 
pletely clothing every exposed ey are sometimes to be seen 
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