226 Rev. W. Dunbar 091 the Aurora Borealis. 



The impression made upon the observer by this aspect of the 

 meteor was wholly of pleasure and admiration ; and we cannot 

 wonder that the inhabitants of the northern parts of Europe 

 should have given to these richly streaming lights the appropriate 

 appellation of " The Merry Dancers." 



It is now considered as a settled point, that the phenomenon 

 of the aurora borealis has its origin in electricity ; though 

 philosophers, in discussing the subject, speak with a degree of 

 mysteriousness which affords a suspicion that " the light within 

 them is yet," comparatively speaking, " but darkness." At the 

 same time, appearances are certainly in favour of the electric 

 theory ; particularly the sound which these streamers are known 

 to emit, and which bears a strong resemblance to the crackling 

 noise proceeding from an electrifying machine when in operation, 

 though of course much louder. Doubts, it is true, are entertained 

 respecting the actual existence of this sound ; and it is certain 

 that the members of the Arctic Expedition, under Franklin and 

 Richardson, never once heard it, although, from its forming 

 the subject of a part of their instructions from government, they 

 bestowed the closest attention in watching the phenomenon. 

 They were assured, however, by their Canadian attendants, that 

 this sound had been heard by them hundreds of times ; and these 

 persons expressed their surprise that a circumstance of such 

 common and frequent occurrence should be the subject of doubt. 



The writer of this notice has no doubt on the subject. He 

 knows that a distinct sound, such as has been described above, is 

 emitted by the aurora borealis; causa scientise patet, — he has 

 heard it at least fifty times. He resided in one of the islands of 

 the Hebrides for nearly six years; and, during that period, 

 heard almost every winter evening, when the phenomenon was 

 visible, the crackling noise of the aurora. He has oftener than 

 once mentioned this fact to Dr Richardson ; and that gentleman, 

 while he observed that he had never been an ear-witness of the 

 sound, yet acknowledged, that he had scarcely any doubts as to 

 its existence ; and expressed himself satisfied, that if it did exist, 

 it would be of the nature described, — that is, it would resemble 

 the hissing or crackling noise of an electrifying machine. 



It is worth bearing in mind, that many ancient historians and 

 poets, though these last may be considered perhaps as inadmis- 

 sible evidence, when describing those luminous appearances m 

 the heavens, which superstition clothed with so much terror, 

 always speak of them as being accompanied with noises. In 

 fact, it is probable that these noises suggested to them the 

 notion of aerial legions contending in sanguinary conflict; and 

 that, while fancy beheld, in the terrific streamers, the blood-red 

 banners of war, the actual sound emitted by the meteor could 

 only be 



The noise of battle hurtling in the air. 



