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_IRIS LUNARIS._
That rare and beautiful phenomenon the _Iris Lunaris_, or moonlight
rainbow, was observed by Mr. W. Colbourne, jun. and a friend of his,
from an eminence about a quarter of a mile from Sturminster, on the
evening of the 14th instant, about twenty minutes before nine o'clock,
in the north-west. Its northern limb first made its appearance;
but after a few minutes, the complete curvature was distinctly and
beautifully displayed. The altitude of its apex seemed to be nearly
forty degrees. Nothing could exceed the beauty of the appearance of
this arch of milky whiteness, contrasted as it was with the sable
rain fraught clouds which formed the background to this interesting
picture. It continued visible more than five minutes, and gradually
disappeared at the western limb.