Mr. H. Blackadder on Unusual Atmospherical Refraction. 71 
to convey the idea that it was at a considerable distance, and 
altogether beyond the sphere of natural vision, we shall be able 
to give a satisfactory explanation of this and similar instances 
of divination. The phenomena in question (the duna feadreach 
and feadreach mairetlimhe ) are by no means of rare occurrence 
in the north-western parts of our island, particularly in the dry, 
hot season at the end of the dog-days, sometime after sun-rise, 
but especially about three and four o'clock in the afternoon. I 
may add, the delightful youthful visions about the 44 light-footed 
kelpy” and 44 green-clad fairy,” are no longer a mystery ; and it is 
even an agreeable reflection that they were not altogether \ isumavy . 
In Captain Parry's journal of his residence at Melville Island, 
we find the following observation: 4 The 3d of June was a beau- 
tiful clear day. At noon half of the sun’s disk was seen over- 
land from the mast-head, which was fifty feet above the level of 
the surrounding frozen sea. The smoke rose perpendicularly, 
which was not usual. A vertical column of pale light extended 
from the upper parts of the sun’s disk to about 3° of altitude. 
Its intensity was observed to be constantly varying, being at 
times very bright, at others scarcely perceptible. In these 
changes, which were exceedingly rapid, it was not unlike the 
aurora borealis ; the light always appearing to shoot upwards, 
as is most usual in that phenomenon.’ It is added, that 4 simi- 
lar appearances had been observed the same day at 10 a. m., 
and on different other occasions,’ and that the aurora borealis 
was seen 4 the same evening, and in the same direction.’ At 
present I shall only add the following short meteorological ex- 
tracts ; the one from Captain Parry’s Journal, and correspond- 
ing in time with the last mentioned observation; the other 
from a journal kept at Edinburgh, and corresponding in time 
with the mirage formerly described as observed on the 8th April 
1823. 
From Captain Parry's Journal. 
| Therm. 
Barom. 
Remarks. 
June. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
1 
— 17 
— 26 
29.88 
29.82 
Light breezes, hazy. 
2 
27 
38 
.92 
.88 
— _ 
3 
35 
44 
30.01 
.92 
Fine weather, — light breezes. 
4 
37 
44 
.02 
.97 
Light airs to fresh breezes. 
5 
20 
37 
29.89 
.75 
Moderate, hazy. 
6 
18 
23 
.69 
.64 
Light breezes, hazy. 
