FA'TA MORGA`NA, a singular aerial phenomenon seen in the straits of Messi na.. When the rising sun shines from that point whence its incident ray forms an angle of about on the sea of Reg gio, and the bright surface of the water in the bay is not disturbed either by the wind or current, when the tide is at its height, and the waters are pressed up by currents to a great elevation in the mid dle of the channel, the spectator being placed on an eminence, with his hack to the sun and his face to the sea, the moun tains of Messina rising like a wall behind it, and forming the back-ground of the picturc,—on a sudden there appears in the water, as in a catoptrie theatre, vari ous multiplied objects—numberless series of pilasters, arches, castles, well-deline ated regular columns, lofty towers, su perb palaces, with balconies and windows, extended alleys of trees. delightful plains, with herds and flocks, armies of men on foot, on horseback, and many other things, in their natural colors and proper actions, passing rapidly in succession along the surface of the scot, during the whole of the short period of time while the above mentioned causes remain. All these ob
jects, which arc exhibited in the Fata Morgans, are proved by the accurate ob servations of the coast and town of Reg gio, to be derived from objects on shore. lf, in addition to the circumstances be fore described, the atmosphere be highly impregnated with vapor, and dense ex halations, not previously dispersed by the action of the wind and waves, or rariticil by the sun, it then happens, that in this vapor, as in a curtain extended along the channel to the height of above forty palms, and nearly down to the sea, the observer will behold the scene of the same objects not only reflected from the surface of the sea, hut likewise in the air, though not so distinctly or well defined as the former objects of the sea. Lastly, if the air be slightly hazy and opaque, and at the same time dewy, and adapted to form the iris, then the above-mentioned objects will appear only at the surface of the sea, as in the first case ; but all vividly color ed or fringed with red, green, blue, and other prismatic colors.