OF THE AURORA. 201 



then not visible through the Aurora. I immedi- 

 ately looked at the needle, and found it slightly- 

 agitated, but not vibrating : on returning, I was 

 surprised to see the dark horizontal, cloud to 

 the westward not in the same shape as before. 

 It had now taken a balloon form, and was 

 evidently fast spreading towards the zenith. On 

 looking to the eastward, I perceived that a dark 

 cloud there also was rapidly altering its appear- 

 ance. So unusual a sight induced me to call my 

 companions, Messrs. King and M c Leod, and we 

 saw the dark broad mass from the westward 

 gradually expand itself, so as to meet the other, 

 which was likewise rising, at or near the zenith. 

 The effect of the junction was a dark gray arch, 

 extending from E. b. S. to W. b. N. across the 

 zenith, and completely obscuring the stars, 

 though at each side of the arch they were par- 

 ticularly clear and twinkling. In the meantime, 

 the Aurora assumed every variety of form ; such 

 as undulating and fringed arches, 30° to 50° 

 high and more or less broad, with flashes and 

 beams at right angles to them. The cloudy 

 arch, too, was illuminated at and around its 

 N. W. edges near the horizon, while rays and 

 curved beams played round its eastern extre- 

 mity. In a few seconds, the part of this nearest 

 the horizon assumed a zig-zag form, like forked 

 lightning ; and immediately the western extre- 



