Dr. Moll on the Aurora Borealis. 521 



rays have been often (not unjustly) compared to the sticks of 

 a fan. Sometimes these rays ascended nearly as high as the 

 zenith, then disappeared, and were succeeded by others. The 

 space between the columns was frequently of a beautiful rose- 

 colour. 



In about half an hour the flame-like rays ceased to rise from 

 the luminous segment in the N.W. ; but the segment still 

 continued to shine with a softer light. 



At about nine o'clock the beautiful appearance called by 

 authors on the Aurora, the Pavilion, was displayed. From 

 the zenith, large and bright streams of flame-like light de- 

 scended towards the S.W., N.E., N. and N.W. in splendid 

 succession ; and the view they afforded was sublime arid mag- 

 nificent beyond description. The N.W. part of the firmament 

 was now covered with coruscations of glowing red light, con- 

 tinually varying in appearance. The brown heath on which 

 I walked was so illuminated as to make objects appear per- 

 fectly distinct, even at some distance. 



During the vivid and sudden changes of these luminous 

 flashes, a single mass of light, like a cloud, arose from the 

 N.E. towards the zenith, passing in quick motion very near the 

 Pleiades, and disappearing in the S.E. This orb of light, 

 through which the stars were visible, was round and globulous 

 in the fore-part, and terminated in a flaming, tapering tail. 

 Its appearance was short and very striking. It was a glorious 

 illustration of the truth of Lucan's description : 

 Ignota viderunt obscurae sidera noctes ; 

 Ardentemque polum flamrais ; coeloque volantes 

 Obliquas per inane faces. 



The phenomenon disappeared gradually ; the Pavilion lasted 

 but a short time : at about ten o'clock the luminous arch alone 

 remained visible in the N.W. ; this continued during several 

 hours, till the wonted darkness of night was entirely restored. 



The next day the weather was thawing apd snowy, the 

 wind S.E. The sky, however, seemed in the night following 

 somewhat brighter in the N.W. 



The following is the abstract of the barometric and ther- 

 mometric observations some days before and after the Aurora 

 Borealis. 



