THE AURORA AUSTRALIS. 



31 



thro\igh this dark segment, apparently as bright as those above, but the 

 light is changed in color and there is frequently a kind of halo about 

 them. The arc gradually grows in intensity and in breadth, and it 

 also rises a little towards the zenith. The upper edge of the segment 

 pales as its height increases. The arc has remained perfectly regular; 

 its two ends almost touch the horizon, and they advance to the east 

 and to the west, widening the distance between them and showing more 

 and more the contour of a circle as the bow of light rises." 



For the first hour no beams were discernible, but the whole display 

 consisted of <in almost uniform light of a delightfully soft, cream color. 



Successive Displays of an Alstkal Aurora. Evening of September 10, 1898. 



At ten o'clock this arc was about 15° above the sea; it was about thrice 

 the breadth of an ordinary rainbow, and its edges were clearly defined 

 against the dark blue of the heavens. Up to this time an air of rest- 

 fulness and repose was about the phenomenon, but now this began 

 to change to an atmosphere of mysterious excitement. A wave of light 

 rolled slowly from one side to the other. This wave soon took on the 

 texture of torn lacework and was drawn to and fro, while the arc, 

 which was less brilliant, remained as it had been before. At about 

 eleven o'clock a second arc, somewhat narrower and less brilliant, 

 appeared below the first. The play of drapery now vanished, but in 



