Inspection of Pike's Peak in its Winter Season. 203 



of the accidental fluctuations. The mountain observations have also 

 been very useful in determining the diminution of temperature with 

 altitude. They have also been employed to explain that the varia- 

 tions of barometric pressure must be taken into account when ac- 

 curacy of results in the determination of the humidity of the air is 

 required. 



In the total eclipse of July 29, 1878, remarkable observations were 

 made from the summit of the Peak, on the extent of the corona. 



During the inspection of the station it was my good fortune to 

 witness one of the most interesting and remarkable phenomena to be 

 observed from the Peak, viz. : the shadow or profile cast by it as the 

 sun disappears at the western horizon. The image was very realistic, 

 so much so that one could hardly credit the fact that it was merely 

 a shadow and not a lofty peak rising abruptly from the prairie. 

 It continued in good form for the space of about fifteen minutes, when 

 it gradually melted away in the mist as the sun was setting behind 

 the gigantic peaks of the Snowy Eange. The apparent upstanding of 

 the shadow was simply the effect of passing mist which caught the 

 darkness of the Peak at a higher level than the earth, for, as the con- 

 densed vapor moved on in the current which was carrying it, the 

 shadow fell to its natural plane on the ground. When the mist was 

 low the shadow fell on top of it, as it were, and there was no ap- 

 pearance of lifting. These shadows have been observed from the 

 summit of Adam's Peak, on the Island of Ceylon, but at sunrise in- 

 stead of sunset, because the light mists form there most favorably on 

 the approach of early morning sun. When the sun shines out very 

 brightly the characteristic prismatic colors are seen in the form of 

 circular bows more or less well defined. The theory is that white light 

 reflected from water globules forms a series of prismatic bows or bands, 

 according to the size of the globules, their closeness and the bright- 

 ness of the illumination. The sunset shadow has also been observed 

 from the peak of Teneriffe. 



Pike's Peak is celebrated for its electrical storms, which occur 

 only when the air is quite moist. The most favorable condition 

 13 dQr ing the time a light snow is falling. When the hands are held 

 U P sparks emanate from the tips of the fingers. At such times, with 

 considerable wind, the anemometer cups look like a circle of fire. Each 

 Jake of snow as it alights on a mule's back gives a spark like a fire 

 bu g- The station has only once been struck by lightning. The 

 electricity came down the anemometer rod, following the wire run- 

 mn g to the battery. At every place where the wire crossed a nail, the 



