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



"Dec. 14, 9 h p.m. Bright aurora in N.N.W. Cirrostrati 

 stretching across the sky from N.N.W. to S.S.E. Auroral light 

 very bright in N.N.W. between the dark radii of the cirrostrati. 

 I noticed a bright luminous streak in S. extending S.S.E. to 

 N.N.W. 



"Dec. 17, 9 h p.m. During an auroral display the luminosity 

 of the cirri was well-marked. A very curious feature, apparently 

 due to the auroral influence, was, that the cirri alter proceeding 

 in straight lines from the N.N.W. point to an altitude of about 

 45° in a S.S.E. direction, took a sudden bend and proceeded in 

 straight lines, to the S.S.W. point. At ll h p.m. the auroral light 

 had exhausted itself, and the cirri extended unbroken across the 

 sky from N.NiE. to S.S.W., well defined and very distinctly 

 luminous. 



"1842. June 4, 12 h p.m. Sky in E. and S.E. overcast by 

 nimbi, from which a few drops of rain were falling. Breaks in 

 the W. and N.W. quarter disclosed some luminous cirrocumuli, 

 with a few streaks shooting rapidly from N.W. by W. The light 

 was nearly as bright as if the clouds had been fully moonlit. 

 June 5, 0" 40 m a.m. The whole sky overspread by fleecy clouds 

 emitting a very considerable pale phosphorescent light. These 

 clouds formed an almost continuous stratum of unequal thick- 

 ness, the denser portions being the more luminous, and arranged 

 in tufty patches connected by rarer spaces, through which the 

 rays of the stars penetrated as through a veil. The whole were 

 agitated in a most singular manner, swinging to and fro, and 

 being traversed by undulating pulsations, which varied their 

 luminosity, and produced an effect resembling that of the waving 

 of a phosphorescent sea. The clouds moved slowly from about W. 

 Occasionally they would suddenly assume a deep nimbus aspect. 

 Soft drops of rain were constantly falling, but in a very irregular 

 and curious manner. I noticed a flash of sheet lightning at this 

 time. l h 5 m a.m. Luminous clouds passing into nimbi. Lu- 

 minosity greatest in W. and S.W. Air nearly calm. About 

 ll h a.m. a waterspout was observed about ten miles S.W. from 

 Dunse. There were heavy thunder-clouds at the time. 



"1843. June 15, 8 h p.m. Cirri passing into cirrocumuli, 

 moving briskly from E.N.E. Their elevation was, however, 

 lower than the general region of cirri. The direction of the cir- 

 rous bands was N.N.W. to S.S.E., fibres dendriform and fleecy. 

 12 h p.m. Cirri extending from N. to S., shooting out in a fitful 

 manner, and much resembling the rays of an aurora. 



" August 24, 6 h p.m. Cirrous bands W.S.W. to E.N.E., motion 

 in the same direction, rather brisk. Fibres irregular, twisted 

 and with fleecy or cirrocumulus tufts. At 8 h 50 m a splendid 

 luminous zone suddenly appeared, spanning the sky from W.S.W. 



