The Russellville Democrat., 1880-06-03

tain, 4,766; Mount Golden, 4.753; Gothic Mountain, 4,744; Mount Redfield, 4,6SS; Nipple Top Mountain, 4,6S4; Mount San. tononi, 4644; Saddle Mountain, 4,536; Giant of the Valley, 4,430; Mount Sew ward, 4,3S4 Mount Macomb, 4,371; Ragged Mountain. 1, ,163; Mount Colvin. 142 These figures and the order e. the peaks will be news to many persons who have obtained their information from cyclopedlas and guide books.
 Mount Marcy is perhaps the most in terestlng, as well as the highest and the grandest of the Adirondack peaks. Towering more than mile above the sea. it slopes grandly upward, with great mountain ridges branching out from 1t in various directions. The summit IS usually wbite with snow excepting Tn July and August, and is often hidden among the clouds. The slopes are GOV cred with stunted growth of evergreen forest. On every side rise up lofty mountain peaks, conspicuous among which are Mcintyre, Clinton Wright, Haystack, Skylight, Golden, the Gothics, and, far in the distance, Whiteface, Dix, the Giant, and Macemb. Almost hid- den among the gigantic domes of Marcy, Skylieht, and Gray Peak, and lying at an elevation of 4,321 feet above the sea. is the beautiful lake "Tear of the Clouds" where are found the sources of the Hudson.
 Footprints of several important ani- mals were found on Mount Marcy by MT. Colvin's party, but the animals themselves were not seen here, though they are to be met with in the warmer lowlands. Among these were the pam ther, entirely earnivorous, immensely muscular, and remarkable for agility and swifness; the gray or Canada lynx. large and powerful animal, densely covered with fur, and, though carnivor- ous, said by some to be good eating for man; the black cat, also an agile, power ful, earnivorous animal, and the sable, a beautiful and rare animal with rich fur. Judging from the numerous tracks, the sable seemed to be quite abundant in the forests on the side of Mount Marcy. Tracks of the ermine were also seen, but it does not appear that the animal is common in this locality. It is probable that the panther, lynx, and black cat are visitors rather than inhabitants of the high regions of Mount Marcy, being tempted by the rabbits which abound there. Only three kinds of birds have left their footprints on the snow of Mount Marcy, namely the raven, the partridge (rufiled grousel, and snow birds, though the bald eagle, hawk, owl, and wild goose have been seen on the wing.
 Besides giving the results of geodetic and trigonometric measurements, mag netic variations, hydrography, river surveys and leveling, and barometric hypsometry, the report before us con talns papers on meteorology, rainfall, botany, zoology, geology, and iron de- posits. There are also numerous maps and wood-cuts, and several chromo- Autographs. One of the last named shows remarkable triple rainbow, which is thus described by Mir. Colvin' Returning at evening by boat across the broad surface of the lake, pleased with the progress of the work, we were so fortunate as to behold rainbow of most singular beauty. in Its form so pne- nomenal and extraordinary that l has, tened to sketch its figure. The sun was descending toward the mountains to the westward, while in the east, over the lowland forest which we had so slowly lett, dark thunderstorm lowered. Suddenly, upon the face of this dark storm, the rainbow shone; net one, nor two, but three bright bands of color, the third broken into two vertical portions standing between the ordinary bows, reflected in the placid, mirror-like sur face of the lake, in bright contrast with the dark background of the storm. OveparchIng the forest which had so long annoyed us, it seemed as though Providence smiled upon our labors and kindly gave us this assurance of success. The remarkable vertical bands of color seen in this rainbow are unaccountable to me unless by the hypothesis that they represented the feet oi an inverted ram bow derived from the re ected image of the sun in still water of the lake"
 A still more wonderful phenomenon was the anthelia or "Ulloa's rings" seen from one of the mountain summlts. This was Q combination of brilliantly colored bands, or concentric rings, cast against the surface of a dense fro-t-Cloud. The center of the anthelia was roseate, the first ring pale purplish-blue, the second yellow, followed by a narrow band of green; beyond this yellowsh- red band was succeeded by one of deep dark rkish-red tint; atter winch the blue again appeared, then green, then yellow and red. The dim figure of the observer, with outstrethed arms, appeared repro duced at tae center of the antheha, like a shadovy cross on the faint figure of the mountain. It was thought that this remarkable sight was produced by diff fraction, the bright sunlight shining though openings in the vlpor on the cloud, and the figure of the observer be- ing the shield around which the bands of color were arranged on the opposite sheet of vapor.