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



overhead from N.N.W. to S.S.E., occasionally shooting out lon- 

 gitudinally and passing through various gradations of brightness, 

 being affected by the transmission of (electrical ?) pulsations. 

 Sometimes the cirri assumed a curdy cirrocumulus appearance. 



"Nov. 17. A splendid auroral display. It first appeared 

 about 5 h 30 m p.m. (Greenwich or railway time) in the form of a 

 luminous haze in N.W. At 6 h p.m. a broad hazy auroral arch 

 or zone extended completely across the sky from E.N.E. to 

 W.S.W. Its southern edge was tolerably well defined, and 

 passed exactly through the Pleiades, and the most southerly of 

 the four conspicuous stars in the Swan. In the course of a few 

 minutes it had moved several degrees to S.S.E. Streamers now 

 appeared in great numbers, occupying the whole sky, with the 

 exception of an arched space in S.S.E., which remained clear to 

 an altitude of about 20°. In the N.E. and W. crimson and 

 rose-coloured patches appeared among the white and yellow 

 streamers, presenting a very beautiful appearance. A corona 

 was formed at the usual place (about 18° S.S.E. of the zenith) 

 by the convergence of the auroral beams. These appearances 

 continued with variations till 8 o'clock, when the streamers began 

 to show greater activity in their movements, shooting up from 

 all points to the corona, whilst luminous sheets appeared and 

 disappeared with great rapidity in various parts of the sky. 

 Near the corona the streamers were curiously contorted, forming 

 curves like those assumed by iron filings under the influence of 

 the magnet. At 8 h 22 m the sky was covered by sheets and 

 streamers of yellow, orange, and crimson hues, excepting the 

 arched space above mentioned, the apex of which was now 14° 

 above the S.S.E. point. The corona Was beautifully defined at 

 intervals, position same as before. At 9 h p.m. the phenomenon 

 might be described as an Aurora australis, being wholly confined 

 to the southern part of the sky, the northern being quite clear. 

 A greenish-white arch of considerable brightness spanned the 

 southern sky at right angles to the magnetic meridian, enclosing 

 a clear space, which extended to 9° above the S.S.E. point. 

 Above this arch, which was several degrees broad, was a broad 

 irregular zone of crimson streamers, the centre of which ranged 

 from about 32° to 39° above the S.S.E. point. At 9 h 7 m the 

 height of the clear space in S.S.E. was reduced to 8°, and about 

 9 h 15 m to 7°. At 9 h 17 m a sudden change took place, the 

 white arch breaking up and mixing with the crimson in the form 

 of streamers, whilst brilliant white and yellow rays shot upwards 

 from the east and west. In a minute or two the southern part 

 of the sky, up to an arched line passing from E.N.E. exactly 

 through the corona to the W.S.W. point of the horizon, was 

 occupied by the most splendid streamers which have been observed 



