(I90 
Amfterdam Edition, (peaks of an inverted Iris by Re- 
flexion, I query whether ever any fuch has been really 
obferved, at lead it ought rather to appear a whole Cir- 
cle, than a piece thereot : nor is it poflible to be feen,as 
he defcribes it, when the Sun is lefs than Five and Forty 
Degrees high; in which Cafe, the Shade of the Cloud 
4)utof whicti the Rain falls, would be very apt to inter- 
cept the Beams of the Sun: and till fome authen- 
tick Relation ihall lliew in what Circumftances it hath 
been effefted, I muft beg pardon if I ftill doubt the Ap- 
pearance of any fuch Phenomenon, 
On this Occafion, I can't forbear relating another Ap- 
pearance I faw in London Stt^tis on the nth of March ^ 
in the Year 1696. It rained pretty thick a fmall Rain, 
and the Sun, about Two of the Clock, Ihone direSly 
down Ahchurch'Lane^ as I was paffing along it with my 
^ Back to him, when I perceived the Arch of the prima- 
ry Rain-Bow in the Drops of Rain (panning the Street 
like an Arch of a Building, under which I was to pafs^ 
the Crown whereof was not much higher than my 
Head, and the diameter thereof fcarce lo wide as the 
Street, which is but 5 Yards; and it moved along with 
me as faft as I went ; the Colours being very vivid and 
diftinct, though the Arch it ftlf appeared but narrow, 
and the Houfes were every where behind it. This, tho' 
very uncommon, will not appear ftrange to thofe that 
have well confidered the Nature of the/r/j,* but the 
Ancients who believed Irh the Meflenger of the Gods, 
would have been apt to have thought Ihe had fome pe- 
culiar Meflage, when (he placed her (elf fo near me, as 
to be almoft within reach : I underftood her to invite 
me to inquire further into the Nature of her Produdion, 
F f z and 
