46 Luminous Phenomenon round the Sim. [January, 
I saw the same appearance in Switzerland, and drew to it 
the attention of many persons with whom I came in contadt. 
The phenomenon was most striking about noon, in a pure 
blue sky, but was also distindt through gaps in the clouds, 
which then took an ugly leaden grey colour. On the 
mountains the colour was strongest, but was quite distindt 
in the valleys. In the last few days it is still visible, though 
faintly. 
“As a landscape-painter I am accustomed to observe 
closely the shades of colour of the sky and of the clouds, 
and have been the more surprised at witnessing something 
which, to my knowledge, has not occurred for fifty years at 
least. As M. Forel asserts, the kind of weather — as warm 
or cold, wet or dry — has no connedtion with this pheno- 
menon. 
“ I saw that the highest summer clouds, far above the 
peaks of the Alps, were still far beneath this phenomenon. 
Further, the colour of the Moon was quite unaffedted, which 
makes me inclined to seek for the cause beyond the orbit of 
the Moon, and probably nearer to the body of the Sun. Buc 
before indulging in conjedtures we must first know whether 
this luminous phenomenon has been seen all over the world, 
or at least in extra-European countries. It would also be 
desirable to know whether spedtroscopic observations have 
thrown any light on the nature and the distance of the still 
mysterious matter. It is difficult to conceive that any ter- 
restrial dust, smoke, mist, or gas can have remained so long 
(fifteen months) in the same position in our atmosphere.” 
