42 



the first until it breaks on us, the progressive move- 

 ment is traced on a north and south line — west of that 

 line is the storm — east, fair weather ; the upper current 

 precedes somewhat the lower stratus, or "scud." When 

 the line is within a hundred miles we see this more plainly. 

 The under current of stratus ^a condensation in advance 

 of the storm — is gradually spreading. out on every side. 

 Towards uight the prominent landmarks are hidden from 

 view. We can see that the lower stratus current is rini- 

 ning under the advancing cloud. The cloud shuts down 

 upon the mountain, all about us an easterly storm is rag- 

 ing, here it is a southwesterly or westerly one. 



A storm presenting its southern side to us is not so 

 interesting, as it condenses most rapidly on this side. On 

 the summit there are sometimes southeasterly storms, but 

 seldom one uorth of east. The great storm of October 

 4th, 1869, was from this direction, as was one short but 

 severe gale and heavy rain of March last. 



AUKORA BOREALIS. 



We witnessed many tine Auroras, but no new facts 

 regarding them are on record. It is to be regretted that 

 we were uot prepared to observe to some extent, electri- 

 cal phenomena, particularly in connection with aiu'oral 

 storms. The only peculiar features noticed were the 

 apparent nearness to the earth of the auroral waves, as 

 a rule ; and three times, displays when the moon was 

 past the first quarter. Our line, or our .end of the line, 

 gave us much trouble at such times. \Vith the insulated 

 wire of the mountain station three miles in length, there 

 is all'orded an op[)()rt unity for the study of electric cur- 

 rents in the terrestrial strata as well as atmospheric cur- 

 rents such as is seldom ollered. The mountain is a gigan- 

 tic insulator, no "ground" being obtainable on the summit. 



