40 Mr. W. Stevenson on the Aurora, and the connexion which 



Out of nineteen displays, selected from upwards of 250 observed 

 here within the last thirteen years, on account of their remark- 

 able splendour, we find the following occurring about the middle 

 of November, viz.:— 1835, Nov. 17; 1837, Nov. 12; 1841, 

 Nov. 18; 1847, Nov. 19; and 1848, Nov. 17. On Nov. 17, 

 1839; Nov. 17, 1840; Nov. 16, 1844; Nov. 17, 1845, and 

 Nov. 17, 1846, aurora} also appeared, though not of very remark- 

 able brightness. The two last-mentioned instances were the 

 only cases of the appearance of the aurora which were noticed in 

 the months of Nov. 1845 and 1846 respectively. There would 

 thus appear to be a certain periodicity in auroral displays, and 

 to this we would respectfully call the attention of meteorologists. 



" Several of the meteors called shooting-stars have been seen 

 in the course of the past week. On the evening of the 12th (a 

 time notably characterized by appearances of such meteors), at 

 6 h 57 m , one of these, much brighter than the planet Venus, 

 appeared to drop vertically downwards from a point situated 

 about midway between the star Alpha in the Northern Crown 

 and the horizon. 



"Nov. 21, 6 h 30 m p.m. Arched aurora in N.W. under which 

 were many cirrostratus streaks ranging at right angles to the 

 magnetic meridian, and occupying very nearly the same extent 

 of sky as the aurora. Remainder of sky clear, with the excep- 

 tion of large cirrostratus masses in W. 8 h p.m. Cirrostrati along 

 the horizon, chiefly in N., but of a hazy and dubious character. 

 Auroral light rather faint and hazy, but occupying fitfully the 

 greater part of the sky both in N. and S. The sky was covered 

 by a thin haze, dimming the stars and affected by luminous pul- 

 sations. Irregular patches of various sizes and very vaguely 

 defined would instantaneously become luminous, and then as 

 suddenly relapse into the apparently uniform haze. The aurora 

 could scarcely be said to affect the form of rays or streamers, being 

 rather a congeries of fitfully luminous clouds, somewhat resem- 

 bling the lightest form of chrocumuli, and scattered over the 

 8ky in an irregular manner. 8 h 30 m . Patches of hazy cirrostrati 

 scattered over the whole sky, under a uniform luminous haze, 

 the light emitted by which was very considerable, greatest in 

 the northern part of the sky, but also very distinct in the south- 

 ern. The cirrostratus patches referred to thickened and ex- 

 tended whilst under observation, and soon arranged themselves 

 in lines extending across the sky from nearly S.W. to N.E. 

 Wind very light from about S.W. 10 h p.m. Luminosity above 

 the cirrostrati very considerable over the whole sky. In the 

 north it seemed decidedly auroral, but there was no appearance 

 of streamers. ll h p.m. Sky covered by cirrostrati passing into 

 nimbi, with appearances of rain, luminosity above clouds still 



