A DARK BOW. 
173 
Friday, IS th. — ^Veiy warm. Thermometer 92 in the shade, 
with much air from the south-west. Though very warm, and the 
power of the sun great, yet the weather has not been close. We 
have had fine airs constantly ; often quite a breeze. It is, indeed, 
singular that so much air should collect no clouds. 
Drive down the valley in the evening. The new-shorn mead- 
ows look beautifully, bordered as they are in many places by 
the later elder-bushes, now loaded with white flowers. The ear- 
lier kind, which blooms in May, more common in the woods, is 
already ripening its red berries. 
About eight o'clock there was a singular appearance in the 
heavens : a dark bow, very clearly marked, spanned the valley 
from east to west, commencing at the point where the sun had 
just set, the sky, at the same time, being apparently cloudless. 
At one moment two other fainter bows were seen ; the principal 
arch was visible, perhaps, half an hour, fading slowly away with 
the twilight. Neither of our party remembered to have seen any- 
thing like it. In superstitious times it would doubtless have been 
connected with some public calamity. 
Saturday, lAih. — A light shower this morning. Just enough 
to lay the dust and refresh the air, which now blows cool and 
moist from the northward. Shaded, vapory sky ; most grateful 
rehef after the hot sun arnd dry air of the last ten days. No 
thunder or lightning. 
Monday, 16th. — Rather cooler; thermometer 79. Fine day. 
Walked in the woods. 
Found many of the Philadelphia, or orange lilies, scattered 
about singly, as usual. They like to grow in woods and groves, 
and are often found among the fern. The Canadian, or yellow lily. 
