Scienii^e Intelligeme. — Meteorology- 379 



ni6nt of a very large circle, with a well defined line, the clouds 

 above continuing dense, and covering the rest of the heavens. 

 The centre of the azure arch gradually inclined more to the 

 north; and reached an elevation of nearly 20*. In a short time 

 very thin fleecy clouds began to rise from the horizon, within 

 the blue arch ; and, through these, very faint perpendicular 

 streaks of a sort of milky light could be perceived shooting : the 

 the eye being thus guided, could likewise detect the same pale 

 streaks passing over the intense azure arch ; but they were ex- 

 tremely slight and evanescent. Between 9^and 10 in the even- 

 ing of the same day, the aurora borealis was very brilliant : so 

 that there is no reason to doubt that the azure arch in the morn- 

 ing, and the pale light seen shooting across it, were connected 

 with the same phenomenon. 



5. Aurora Borealis. — On the 29th of August last^we observ- 

 ed at Milnegraden, in Berwickshire, from 11 until half past 12 

 o^clock, a fine display of the polar lights. The centre of the arch 

 appeared to be nearly in the magnetic north, and its light as well 

 as that of the beams was brilliant. The evening was clear and 

 calm ; but on the following morning the wind changed, and heavy 

 rain, with a strong gale of wind succeeded. On Sunday even- 

 ing, 9th instant (September), we noticed at Roslin another dis- 

 play of the polar lights. They were first visible about 8 o'clock 

 V. M., and continued until 12 at night. When firstobserved, they 

 appeared in the form of a single luminous arch, low in the atmo- 

 sphere, (to the eye at times appearing almost to touch the surface 

 of the earth), extending from NW. to SE., with accompanying 

 flitting beams. After some time, the position of the arch gra- 

 dually changed, and at length became nearly stationary, in a 

 NE. and NNE., and SW. and SSW. direction. It gradually 

 rose higher in the a4:mosphere, became double, its light grew 

 more intense^ the beams more numerous, and exhibiting their 

 usual flitting motion. Towards 12 o'clock the beams and arches 

 became faint ; at length there remained but a faint pale yel- 

 lowish light occupying the space, which, in its turn, at length 

 disappeared. These lights, as is generally the case, were accom- 

 , panied with cirrus clouds. It is worthy of remark, that the cir- 

 rus cloud, when carefully observed, appears generally more or 



