394 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



the zenith and appearing to roll like columns of smoke spirally towards 

 the west. At 8:33, in the east were two parallel streaks, the northern the 

 heavier and the southern throwing out diverging lines of light that seemed 

 to gradually curve as they approached the zenith. At 8:35 o'clock the main 

 branches had separated at the zenith, while the western one was very nar- 

 row, extending through the Northern Crown. A small line of light now 

 extended from a point about three degrees north of Alpha Lyra to a point 

 about seven degrees from Eta Ursa Majoris. At 8:39 a brighter streak 

 appeared between Alpha Lyra and Ursa Majoris, while that over the 

 Crown was broken up into a series of parallel, smaller and fainter streaks. 

 The eastern branch was now very faint and narrow, and extended nearly 

 from Pi Pisces to Alpha Lyra, while all along the northern horizon was a 

 bright rosy glow like the northern lights, but brightest toward the west. 

 At 8:45 the phenomenon presented a faint, yet beautiful appearance, and 

 at 8:55 it had vanished." 



In the Kansas City Review of Science and Industry, Novem- 

 ber, 1881, Prof. S. A. Maxwell, Monisonville, Ills., remarks : 



"The mysterious band of light seen at Albany was probably, what I 

 have stated, a mere auroral arch, but, appearing as it did in the zenith, 

 more nearly resembled a band than an arch. The same viewed from a 

 lower latitude would have presented an arch-like appearance, similar to 

 those often seen by us in the distant north; and these latter would present 

 to an observer beneath them the same band-like appearance seen at 

 Albany." 



My point of observation was north and east of any I have seen 

 mentioned ; some other explanation is needed for the appearance 

 there presented. 



