182 
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 
In this discussion I have limited myself to the salient features which 
are indispensable to the presentation of my theory. As to the identity of 
the phenomenon here described with that observed at the Straits of Messina 
I could deduce several details, such as I have given in my book Le Leman. 
For example, a ship sailing in the banded zone of the Fata Morgana, a 
steamer, or a house of known form, may be deformed so as to be absolutely 
unrecognisable. Although never bent into the impossible physical positions 
shown in Minasi’s drawing, they may have their relative dimensions altered 
in an incredible manner. May we not find some excuse for the artist in 
the fact that, under the restrictions of his art, he attempted to draw a scene 
whose extraordinary distortions he could not explain ? The vertical extension 
of objects situated in the banded zone, the flattening of objects above the 
upper limit of this zone, the multiplication of images of the same object, the 
superposition of erect and inverted images, etc., etc., are so astonishing and 
so irrational that we may well forgive the superstitions of early observers, 
amazed and perturbed by these fantastic illusions. 
The accompanying figure illustrates my hypothesis ; it needs no further 
explanation. 
(Issued separately May 25 , 1912 .) 
