62 J. F. Miller, Esq., on the 



excessive mortality, which uninterruptedly prevailed for a period of 

 two years and a half ; for this is the only quarterly period wherein 

 the deaths have not exceeded the average since March 1846. 



In the corresponding quarters of 1846, 1847, and 1848, the 

 deaths were 215, 161, and 176 respectively. The births exceed 

 the deaths by 34. 



The Aurora Borealis. — There have been seven exhibitions of 

 the aurora borealis durinor the vear 1849, two of which were suffi- 

 ciently remarkable to merit something more than a passing notice. 



The first occurred on the evening of January 14th. At 10 p.m., 

 a well-defined auroral arch, about 5° in width, extended from NNE. 

 to W., its highest part reaching nearly to Arided in Cygnus. At 

 11^ there was one complete arch, and segments of two other arches, 

 all brilliant, crossing each other in the NW., and throwing off in- 

 tensely bright streamers, some of which reached the altitude of the 

 Pointers. The aurora was now exceedingly beautiful, and emitted 

 considerable light. The streamers appeared to have a duplex late- 

 ral motion, running along the upper edge of the arch from west to 

 north, and then backwards from north to west. The clear sky be- 

 neath the arches was almost black, from contrast. At 11^ 30"^ the 

 arches had broken up, and the streamers appeared to emanate from 

 the horizon. 



February 18. — At 9 p.m. there was a brilliant band of auroral 

 light in the east about 6° in width, which shot upwards towards the 

 zenith, throwing off short lateral streamers. At times, a complete 

 arch of varying width extended from the eastern to the western 

 horizon ; at others, it was broken up into two or more detached por- 

 tions. At 9^ 45"i, a magnificent rainbow-like arch about 2° in 

 width, spanned the heavens from ENE. to WSW. The altitude of 

 the centre was apparently about 75° ; the lower edge, at or near the 

 highest point of the arch, was bounded by the star Castor. The 

 arch was beautifully defined, and of perfectly even width throughout 

 its entire extent ; it disappeared in a few minutes after my attention 

 was called to it, and soon after the sky became overcast. But for 

 the absence of the moon, it might easily have been mistaken for a 

 lunar rainbow. A precisely similar arch made its appearance here 

 on the evening of the 21st of March 1833, and as far as my obser- 

 vation goes, these perfect rainbow-like arches are of exceedingly rare 

 occurrence. 



The following phenomenon though unconnected with aurora3, is 

 probably of electric origin ; and, as an unusual atmospheric appear- 

 ance, is worthy of being placed on record: — September 16. — -The 

 sky was mostly overcast throughout the day, except a segment ex- 

 tending from WSW. to ENE., which was bright and clear to an 

 altitude of about 1 5°. The upper boundary of the clear blue space 

 was an elliptical segment formed by a sheet of white cloud, which 

 was partially illuminated towards the western extremity, and some- 



