Observations of the Aurora Borealis. 461 



r1 I believe that this number of observations is greater than 

 has ever before been made in so low a latitude, and am in- 

 clined to think that it is very high even for Canada. The 

 greatest number of observations at Toronto in any previous 

 year since 1840 was 37 in 1846, the average of the ten years 

 being 35. The greatest number in any one year (from 1837 

 to 1848) collected in the Regent's reports is 75, the average 

 50. The greatest number observed by M. Hansteen at 

 Christiania, in Norway, lat. 60° from 1837 to 1846, in any one 

 year, is 52 — the average 33. This result is not more than 

 may have been expected from the great advantages afforded 

 by the duties of non-commissioned officers on guard for ob- 

 servations of the kind, and from our comparative proximity 

 in geographical position to the magnetic pole, with which, in 

 some way not at pi'esent well understood, the phaenomenon 

 appears to be connected. But it is highly satisfactory to find 

 that the pains taken have been so successful. For the next 

 twelve months' observations will be continued at Toronto 

 throughout the night, and the observatory will be provided 

 with a number of self-registering instruments, recording every 

 change of the magnetic elements mechanically. Hence it will 

 be of great consequence not to lose the key which auroral 

 displays at a distance may possibly afford to those movements 

 in a single instance. 



At some of the stations the non-commissioned officers have 

 got out of the habit of attempting to describe what they see. 

 This is to be regretted. Measurements with the wooden 

 quadrant, or careful estimations of the heights and azimuths 

 of arches, are frequently wanting, and the time is not always 

 stated. This remark applies particularly to the termination 

 of the displays, which are frequentl}' said in general terms to 

 have lasted until daybreak; in all such cases the observer 

 should state, as nearly as he can, the latest moment at which 

 he was sure of seeing the light, watch its extinction attentively, 

 and endeavour to decide for himself whether that is the con- 

 sequence of the increase of daylight, or of the actual termina- 

 tion of the phaenomenon. Very early appearances should, for 

 similar reasons, be particularly described; for instance, it is 

 recorded to have been seen at London, C. W., on the 24th of 

 July 1848, at half-past 7 p.m., which is but a few minutes 

 after sunset. Such a rare observation should have every pos- 

 sible confirmation. These particulars might at least be noted 

 with very little trouble at the hours of going rounds. I 

 should be glad also to see a more explicit statement every 

 morning of what the character of the night has been, as re- 

 gards the possibility of observing aurora, so as to give some 



