OF THE POLAR SEA. 



253 



month, and we were also gratified by the 

 resplendent beauty of the moon, which for 

 many days together performed its circle 

 round the heavens, shining with undimi- 

 nished lustre, and scarcely disappearing be- 

 low the horizon during the twenty-four 

 hours. 



During many nights there was a halo 

 round the moon, although the stars shone 

 brightly, and the atmosphere appeared 

 otherwise clear. The same phenomenon 

 was observed round the candles, even in 

 our bed-rooms ; the diameter of the halo 

 increasing as the observer receded from 

 the light. These halos, both round the 

 moon and candles, occasionally exhibited 

 faintly some of the prismatic colours. 



As it may be interesting to the reader to 

 know how we passed our time at this sea- 

 son of the year, I shall mention briefly, that 

 i a considerable portion of it was occupied in 



I the horizontal refraction; for it must be considered 

 jthat an error of 30", in the refraction in altitude, 

 I would make a difference of several minutes in the 

 horizontal refraction." — Mr. Hood's Journal. 



