392 IJescnption of the Aurora Borealis^ 



survey of ignorance and superstition. But the spear-shape 

 is descriptive, because the coruscations, unUke rays of light, 

 and unlike flames of fire, have neither the obtuse figure of 

 a pyramid, nor the acute one of an obeUsk, upright or re- 

 versed ; but, after rising, through almost their whole height or 

 length, of an equal or nearly equal diameter, terminate in a 

 point which is formed, not of right lines, like the point of a 

 dagger, but of curved lines, so as to form the rounded point 

 of a spear, or that figure which is so familiar to botanists, 

 as spoken of ^* spear-shaped" leaves* A ray of light, in 

 whatever direction it is thrown, broadens, with right-lined 

 sides, from the first point of its departure, to the furthest 

 stretch of its projection; a flame of fire points uniformly 

 upward, with the same regularity of form, excepting only as 

 it is liable to undulation from the motion of the atmosphere ; 

 but, the columns, spears, streamers, or coruscations of the 

 Aurora Borealis, have no form but that under review. no-y 

 5. About half-past eleven o'clock, or nearer to twelvfe^ 

 several powerful columns shot toAvard the zenith ; while, to 

 the east of north, others were at once curved in their form, 

 and projected in an angle of about thirty degrees with Ihe 

 horizon. But while,' upon the west of north, the sky, above 

 the ridge of clouds, was entirely clear, so that, there, the 

 columns played upon a ground which formed a slight con- 

 trast with themselves, here, the clouds were still heavy, and 

 the columns behind them appeared, in consequence, of a fiery 

 red, deepening as they approached the outer edge of the whole 

 display, at which was the sharpest outline, contrasted in the 

 distinctest manner with the dark sky. The light upon that 

 side called to the mind of the writer the ** dunnest smoke of 

 hell," of Macbeth ; while, as to its outer fine, as seen from the 

 east end of Pall-mall, the sides of the stone spire of St. Mar- 

 tin's church, which rose to the eastward of it in the sky, were 

 not more sharply defined ; the dark intervening sky affording 

 relief to both, though not equally so, upon account of the 

 superior brightness of even the obscured columns. But, in 

 taking leave of this columnar, or spearrlike, and main part of 

 the Aurora, it may be permitted to add, that, in those tapering 

 forms, together with their xuotioDs, (though the comparisoa 



