RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 37 



we saw it; for although it might, from the shortness of the days in December and January, have 

 been seen at 3h. p. m., if present, it seldom appeared before 1h. p. m., and was usually most 

 brilliant at midnight. 

 On the 11th of February, the clouds formed a regular arch, extending N. N. W. to E., and the 

 needle of a compass, fixed in the house for the purpose of making observations, receded 20' from 

 the magnetic meridian to the westward. I saw these clouds disperse, and afterwards collect in 

 a different form. The disturbance of the compass is another proof of the presence of the Aurora 

 during the day; but, on the whole, there is reason to conclude that such is not often the case." — 

 1 Franklin (Hood), 583. 



X. B.— 1. Arch from N. W. to S. E. by E. (immediately after sunset), at 5h. 30m. 



2. In January and December, it could have been seen at 3h. p. m. 



3. Yet seldom appeared before Yh. p. m. 



4. And was most brilliant at midnight. 



Fort Enterprise.— Lat. 64° 28' 24" N. Long. 113° 6' W. March 13, 1821. Hood. 



"On the 13th of November (1820), the Aurora teas seen between the clouds and the earth, by Mr. 

 Franklin and Dr. Richardson. 



On the 13th of March (1821), I saw an Aurora, which was emanating in wreaths from the JV. W., 

 pass over the lower surface of a stratum of white clouds. The upper edge of the clouds was 80 

 feet distant from the lower, and its azimuth S. 35° W. The Aurora passed at the altitude of 

 70°, and, therefore, could not have been more than two miles from the earth, supposing that the 

 elevation of the clouds was two and a half miles. The wind was west, aud the temperature of 

 the air 36°. 



Another circumstance, which twice came under my observation, is too remarkable to be omitted. 

 The Aurora was very brilliant near the zenith, the sky perfectly clear, and the wind moderate, 

 when a discharge took place of small flakes of snow, which continued during several minutes. 

 In both instances, showers of snow had fallen about half an hour before ; but, at the precise 

 period of these phenomena, no clouds were visible 10° above the horizon. To account for them 

 on any known principles, we must wholly abandon Euler's theory of the zodiacal light and Dr. 

 Halley's circulation of magnetic effluvia." — 1 Franklin (Hood), 583. 



N. B. — Aurora between the clouds and the earth. 



Port Enterprise.— Lat. 64° 28' 24" N. Long. 113° 6' W. April 2T, 1821. Hood. 



"On the 2Tth of April, 1821, at lOh. 30m. p. m., a single column of Aurora rose in the north, and 

 traversed the zenith towards the south; another column appearing N. E. by E., and taking a 

 parallel direction. The first was slightly agitated, and the beams momentarily visible. It passed 

 to the western horizon in ten minutes, and was followed by the other, which became brighter as 

 it approached the zenith. 



I am noto convinced they were borne away by the wind, because the columns preserved exactly their 

 distance from each other during their evolution, and some detached wreaths, projected from 

 them, retained the same relative situations of all their parts ; which never happens when the 

 Aurora is carried through the air by its own direct motion. The wind was E. by N., a strong 

 gale, and the temperature of the air 9°. 



It must be admitted that the influence of the wind upon the Aurora was never suspected until the 

 21th of April. However, there are several particulars connected with the subject, which may 

 have prevented such an influence from manifesting itself on former occasions. 



1st. When the coruscations were rapid and brilliant, they forced themselves against the wind, or 

 in a contrary direction, without any perceptible difference of speed ; from which circumstance 



