12 RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 



in a few seconds these disappeared, and a complete circle was displayed, bounding the horizon 

 at an elevation of fifteen degrees. 

 There was a quick lateral mutton in the attenuated beams of which this zone was composed. Its 

 color was a pale yellow, with an occasional tinge of red." — 1 Franklin, 143. 



"On the 17th and 19th the Aurora appeared very brilliant in patches of light, bearing N. W." — Ibid., 

 p. 114. 



May 2, 1820. — "On the 2d the Aurora faintly gleamed through very dense clouds." — Ibid., p. 145. 



June 16, 1820. — "On the evening of the ICth the Aurora Borealis was visible, but after that 

 date the nights were too light for our discerning it." — Ibid., p. 1G2. 



N. B. — 1. Three illuminated beams in the N. E. and W. points. 



2. A complete circle bounding the horizon, 15° high. 



3. A quick lateral motion. 



At Sea: Atlantic Ocean.— March 29, 1817. O'Reilly. 



March 29, 1817. — "At 8 p. m., the electric coruscations suddenly appeared, running about at thirty 

 degrees above the horizon, ascending in a perpendicular direction from a base in a rapid suc- 

 cession of brassy-yellow flames, from W. to E., and soon died away. • 



Immediately after, from the westward there slowly extended upwards to the zenith four faintly- 

 marked radii, which diverged as they ascended ; two, more approximating to each other and 

 nearly of equal breadth throughout. One only remained, stretching in a magnificent arch over 

 the zenith, embracing the horizon east and west, and of a splendor exceedingly faint: it might, 

 on hasty observation, be supposed a cirrus." — O'Reilly, p. 28. 



N. B. — 1. First appearance — yellow flames from W. to E. 



2. Magnificent arch over the zenith cmbraciug the horizon E. and W. 



March 30. — "At 9| p. m., the coruscations appeared again from northwest; and, in the midst of the 

 stunning hurly, I could not resist noticing their activity. Imagination would say, that truly the 

 spirit of the storm was abroad in all his majesty. The account of the lights, immediately noted, 

 may be of interest to some of my readers." — Ibid., p. 29. 



N. B. — Coruscations from northwest. 



Near Davis's Strait.— April, 1817. O'Reilly. 



April 8, 1817. — "Lights very vivid, restless, and playing from every point towards the star 

 Beuetnach, as to a centre of afflux." — O'Reilly, p. 31. 



April 1G. — "The lights, between 10 and 11 p. m., were exceedingly splendid, and seemed to make 

 Benetuach a centre, but moving to N. E." — Ibid., p. 33. 



At Sea.— Lat. 59° N. Long. 50° W. October 8, 1818. Robertson. 



" At eight in the evening, observed the Aurora very bright on the true east quarter, shooting beau- 

 tiful rays in bundles from the horizon to the altitude of 60°; this was soon obscm-ed by squalls 

 of snow and sleet. From nine to twelve the Aurora was seen in every part of the heavens 

 shooting streams of light in every direction; the most luminous appearing from north by west to 

 west by north, true bearings." — 1 John Ross (Robertson), A pp., exxii. * 



N. B. — 1. At 8 p. m., very bright in true E. quarter. 



2. From 9 to 12, in every part of the heavens; the most luminous appearing from N. byW. 

 to W. by N. 



