480 ADDITIONAL NOTICES OF THE AURORA BOREALIS. 



eat of the flesh roasted; it is white, the fat as transparent and colourless 

 as glass, and the taste that of veal, but sweet as if cooked with sugar. 



Mr. Heneiken, a gentleman of great experience in tropical natural 

 history, who accompanied me in my rambles in Yasica, confirmed the 

 common tradition that the caiman swallows sticks and stones for the 

 purpose of keeping the stomach distended. In a multiplicity of 

 instances in which he examined it when killed, he found these sub- 

 stances in its stomach, an instinct it has in common with another of 

 the amphibious tribes, the phocee, or seals. 



ADDITIONAL NOTICES OF THE AURORA BOREALIS. 



BY RURICOLA. 



IN pursuance of the historical notes, inserted in the Field Naturalist's 

 Magazine, p. 362, and following, concerning the AURORA BOREALIS, 

 I take the liberty of submitting the following supplemental remarks. 



This phenomenon was observed in England several times in the 

 reign of Queen Elizabeth. Of these the earliest seems to be that 

 which was seen at London on January 30th, 1560, and which is re- 

 corded under the appellation of " Burning Spears," in a book entitled 

 " A Description of Meteors," reprinted at London in the year 1654, 

 signed W. F., D.D. 



By the testimony of Stow, the historian, the same phenomenon was 

 observed on the 7th of October, 1 564. 



By the same historian, and his contemporary Camden, the like 

 appearances are described to have occurred for two successive nights, 

 namely, the 14th and 15th of November, 1574. On the 14th, the 

 former records in his annals, that there " were seen in the air strange 

 impressions of fire and smoke to proceed forth of a black cloud in the 

 north, towards the south. The next night following, the heavens from 

 all parts did seem to burn marvellous ragingly, and over our heads the 

 flames from the horizon round about, rising, did meet, and there double 

 and roll one in another, as if it had been in a clear furnace." 



Subsequent to this date are no instances on record as having appeared 

 in Britain, though some are mentioned to have been seen during the 

 interval in Brabant, Wirtemburg, and France, at several periods, under 

 circumstances which make it probable that they must have been visible 



