parhelia appeared, and in the region of the eccentric arch, small clouds of greater density could be distinctly perceived. There was neither rain nor dew at Arbroath, nor in its vicinity, during the phenomenon. Neither the state of the thermometer nor barometer was observed at the time. Towards night there was some dew, and an appearance of rain; but a frosty wind ensued before next morning. The phenomenon on the whole was grand and beautiful, and perhaps not inferior to that seen at Rome in 1629, nor to that at Arles in 1666; though in the former there appeared five, and in the latter six parhelia. This atmospherical phenomenon was observed, and described as above, by Mr. Bowman, schoolmaster, of St. Vigeans, North Britain. It is now extracted from the common place-book of a friend. Of the many singular deceptions caused by the atmosphere which might be adduced, we annex the following, by two celebrated travellers : Mr. Salt thus describes the effects of the atmosphere on the vision, to which he was an eye-witness.At daybreak we continued our route to Aden. As we approached the peninsula, we were much struck with the appearances which the Sun put on as it rose. When it had risen about half way above the horizon, its shape appeared like that of a balloon; and at length the lower limb suddenly starting up from the horizon, it assumed the general form of a globe, flattened at either axis. These singular changes may be attributed to the refraction produced by different layers of atmosphere, through which the Sun was viewed in its progress. The same cause made our ship in the bay look as if it had been lifted out of the water, and her bare masts appear to be crowded with sail: a low rock also seemed to rise up like a vessel, and a projecting point of land to rest on no other foundation than the air; the space between these objects and the horizon having a grey pellucid tinge, very distinct from the darker colour of the Sun.' Dr. Clarke, speaking of the same phenomenon, says-' One of the Arabs, whom we saw from afar, seemed higher than a tower, and to be moving in the air; at first this was to me a strange appearance, but it was only the effect of refraction. The camel which the Arab was upon, touched the ground like all others.' The effects of the atmosphere, however, in causing these appearances, seem to be confined to hot and arid countries, and almost peculiar to the deserts of Africa, particularly those of Arabia and Abyssinia. On the COMET of 1811. The appearance of this luminous wanderer is, no doubt, still fresh in the minds of many of our readers; and to such, the following beautiful and descriptive lines need no apology. How lonely is this wildered scene, When Silence, from her vault so blue, Stranger of heav'n, I bid thee bail! Shred from the pall of glory riven, Broad pennon of the King of Heaven! Fair herald of th' eternal throne! Where hast thou roamed these thousand years? To fling thy vesture o'er the wain? To sail the boundless skies with thee! Where other moons and planets roll! And airy as thine ambient beam. Then, wheeling to the east away, 2 Sweep the grey portals of the morn! HOGG. Vividly are the closing evenings towards the end of this month described in the following lines. "Tis eventide-the downward sloping Sun, From his bright throne upon the landscape casts To leave the world to midnight's cold embrace PENNIE'S Rogvald. The Naturalist's Diary For MARCH 1826. March, though the hours of promise with bright ray And harshly hymn thy early-closing day. THE cutting blasts of March, so trying to the invalid, are equally injurious to the progress of vegetation; and the sweet flowers' are compelled to await the smiles and tears of gentle April to encourage their growth, and to bring them to perfection. Some more bold than the rest, who dare to brave the warrior front of Boreas, often perish in his chilly embrace. The winds of March, however, are highly beneficial in drying up the superabundant moisture of the earth; and although they may retard the delights and the beauties of Spring, these are rendered more valuable to us, because they are less fugacious. The russet-brown dress of the hedges is now spotted with green, preparatory to their assuming the complete vesture of Spring.-The leaves of the lilac begin to peep from beneath their winter clothing, and gooseberry and currant trees display their verdant foliage and pretty green blossoms. The yew-tree, 'faithful in death,' as it protects our tombs from the gaze of every passing stranger, when our more gaudy floral acquaintances have deserted us, opens its blossoms about the beginning of this month. Mr. WIFFEN, whose 'Aonian Hours' should ever accompany us in our rambles during the Spring and Summer, speaking of the yew, says-He Hath built himself a pinnacle, and stands The guardian of the vale-whose dropping dew Which loathe the weeds they nourish: to the bands Comes, which all blossoms seeks, though it commands Nor there one green herb grows, nor harebell of the lea. But well its shade would please the anchorite; The melody of birds now gradually swells upon the ear. The throstle, second only to the nightingale in song, charms us with the sweetness and variety of its lays. The linnet and the goldfinch join the general concert in this month, and the golden-crowned wren begins its song. The lark, also, must not be forgotten. While the birds delight us with their song, the bees read us a lesson of industry, for they are to be seen collecting materials for their elegant condiment of honey on every fine day throughout the year'. 1 The BEE. Love in his bosom, like a bee, Now with his wings he plays with me, Now with his feete. Within mine eyes he makes his nest, His bed amid my tender breast; My kisses are his daily feast, Strike I my lute-he tunes the string, What if I beat the wanton boy He will repay me with annoy, Then sit thou safely on my knee, LODGE. |