1892.] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 105 



Mr. Tatlock gave an interesting description of the recent 

 auroral di.splays, as follows : — 



Remarks on the Aurora of February 13, 1892. 



The aurora was observed from about 6.30 to 7.15 P. M. in West 

 T8th Street, near Riverside Drive, where an uninterrupted view was 

 secured of the phenomenon. This aurora presented some curious 

 and unique features, the principal of which are as follows ; — 



The color of the luminous veil was a dull fiery red, such as is 

 seen from a furnace when the flame has disappeared. Mr. Tatlock 

 stated that in all auroras of great brilliancy which he had previously 

 seen he had never before observed this peculiar tint. 



The streamers were more nearly radial than the speaker had ever 

 before noticed, and the peculiarity of them was that there was no 

 undulatory motion in a direction parallel to the horizon, such as is 

 usually seen. They presented the appearance of the light from an 

 electric search-light directed toward the heavens, and the only 

 variation in the display was in the degree of intensity of the light. 

 The arch with the dark cloud beneath was particularly well defined 

 throughout its entire length. The luminous appearance extended 

 to a far greater degree on the western side of the pole than on the 

 eastern. This appearance was, probably, occasioned by the fact 

 that the moon had a high declination, and being near the horizon 

 was then shedding its light strongly upon the eastern side of the 

 aurora. Such portion of the veil on the eastern side as was visible 

 appeared to be of a peculiar greenish-gray color, this appearance, 

 undoubtedly, being caused by the position of the moon. 



Mr. Tatlock also referred to the auroras of the fall of 1881 and 

 spring of 1884, which were noted at the times they appeared for 

 their brilliancy and extent. In connection with the aurora of this 

 year, however, there was no band of auroral light extending from 

 east to west and passing through the zenith, such as was visible at 

 both of the previous auroras referred to. 



At the conclusion of these remarks the meeting adjourned. 



Vol. XL— 8 



