at High Wycombe, Bucks. 



25 



and 13. 1835: the following is a copy of my notes on these, 

 made at the time : — 



January 7. 1831. — The most splendid aurora borealis that 

 has been seen in these parts for the last thirty years, was ob- 

 served this evening. About 7 o'clock, the whole atmosphere 

 from the e.n.e. to the n. was brilliantly illuminated by a deep 

 yellow light ; from the first-mentioned point several curved 



and divergent rays issued ; at intervals streams of a greyish- 

 blue light shot up with great velocity, and, passing the zenith, 

 vanished in a few seconds ; these appearances continued for 

 nearly an hour, when the radii assumed a deep red tint, and 

 the whole light spread further to the westward ; at one time 

 two red rays took the shape of a very pointed arch, like that 

 of a lancet window ; with little variation as to form and bright- 

 ness, the rays continued, until past 9 o'clock, still extending 

 more to the westward, and reaching from the e.n.e. to the 



