MR BAIRD ON THE AURORA BOREALIS, 49 



afterwards informed that the same sound was heard on the same evening, 

 in the neighbourhood of Cockburnspath, and the hearer describes it as 

 somewhat resembling the low but quick flap of a bird's wing. I state 

 tin- with much diffidence, however, well knowing the discrepancy of 

 opinion upon this point. A few nights after this, there was another al- 

 most equally brilliant display, and since that they have been of no un- 

 frequent occurrence, though not to any extent. 



It is a general opinion that a bright or frequent display of these beau- 

 tiful meteors betokens bad weather ; and though I am not acquainted 

 with the results which learned men have come to upon this subject, I am 

 aware that this inquiry has called forth the observations of several me* 

 teorologists, and that the scientific M. Arago of Paria, in particular, has 

 bestowed much attention on the subject, and I believe has had frequent 

 communications from naturalists in this country concerning it. I am 

 sorry that I cannot bring forward here, a detailed account of the weather 

 as it immediately succeeded the appearances I have attempted to de- 

 scribe ; and owing to the delay attending the forwarding of his meteo* 

 rological instruments from Edinburgh, I have not been able to avail my- 

 self of the meteorological diary or journal which the Rev. Mr Wallace 

 of Abbey St Bathan's some time ago kindly promised to furnish the Club 

 with, and with which I had hoped to have been able to supply the want 

 of my own observations. A general recollection, however, remains of 

 the weather following these appearances, which will, perhaps, be suffi- 

 cient, in the mean time, to shew the probability of the opinion, that they 

 are precursors of stormy weather. The day following the first exhibi- 

 tion, the sky in the forenoon presented the appearance of an immense 

 number of finely pointed and waved linear " cirri,** not very unlike the 

 long streams of light seen on the preceding evening. These soon be- 

 came mixed with the " comoid" variety of " cirrus,** or mare's tails, ac- 

 companied with some specimens of the " plumose" variety, which latter 

 varieties are generally acknowledged by meteorologists to be precursors 

 of wind and rain. The latter part of September, it will perhaps be re- 

 membered by many, was characterized by blustering changeable weather, 

 storms of wind arising at frequent intervals, shattering the trees, and 

 stripping them of their leafy glory. Owing to their being chiefly from 

 the west, however, little or no damage was done on this coast. About 

 twenty-four hours after the appearance of the second display I have men- 

 tioned, a fierce storm of wind arose, accompanied with heavy showers of 

 rain: the weather became cold and dismal, and on the 14th October the 

 Cheviot Hills, a little to the south of Yetholm, were covered with snow. 

 About the same time the Tweed and Teviot were swollen to their banks, 

 and a series of broken and severe weather continued for some time. 

 Frost and snow since then have been but little felt, but it cannot have 

 escaped the notice of all the members of the Club, what fierce and great 

 storms have raged for some time back, and what lamentable disasters at 



B. N. c. NO. n. n 



