A Miniature Rainbow

Abstract

JUST about three o'clock this afternoon (I had a few minutes previously asked the time at the village post office) I witnessed a remarkable and very beautiful phenomenon. Coming through a woodland walk, I was caught by a heavy downpour of rain. As it was passing away, the sun shone down from a suddenly clear sky over the tops of the trees behind and to the right. Instantly against a screen of dark alder foliage on the left in front, and distant not more than three yards from where I stood, a perfect miniature rainbow was formed, its highest part being just about level with my eyes. It appeared broader than an ordinary rainbow, and much the greater portion was of one deep violet colour, the remaining colours forming merely a narrow border above. Very vivid at first, it quickly faded away, as the shower came to an end.