1852.] 



HARD-LINED CLOUDS. 



169 



instructions were issued, " to note every deviation above 

 or below 125." A similar phenomenon, but on a much 

 reduced scale, and riot nearly so brilliant, occurred the 

 night following. The magnetometer exhibited symptoms 

 of undue disturbance between the hours of eight P.M. 

 and thirteen (or one A.M.). 



To the pencil of Lieutenant May I am indebted for 

 the very interesting sketch of the subject under notice, 

 as well as of the ship and tender at our winter quarters. 



On the forenoon of the 1st of December the southern 

 arch of the horizon became considerably illuminated, 

 equal indeed to our tints in lower latitudes before sun- 

 rise in March, and exhibited a very beautifid illustration 

 of the effect of intense cold arresting the upper currents 

 of air. This representation was so perfectly defined as 

 to produce hard lines on the edges of the clouds, on 

 which the fancy would frequently trace ideal figures. In 

 one particular instance they seemed to be a collection of 



the various outlines of the summits of the land, and to 

 be forced into rounded forms, as if impelled by a furious 

 gale. 



Under this dark-coloured sky the distant land on the 



