60 RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 



N. W., in an horizontal direction, the rays of light of which the stream was composed were seen 



vibrating backwards and forwards, between the two extremes, in the most rapid manner. 

 During this commotion, which lasted ten minutes, the needle deviated between 39° 15' and 41° 15'. 



It afterwards continued stationary for three minutes at 40° 45', though the Aurora was violently 



agitated; but the motion of the light was then nearly circular, or in the form of a horseshoe, 



and confined to the zenith. The color of the light was faint red. 

 In a few seconds afterwards, the whole body of the light, being concentrated in the W. N. W. point, 



darted in an instant across the zenith to E. S. E., exhibiting in its progress a similar agitation 



in its rays to that already described. 

 The coruscation then branched off to the north, forming a broad band of light about 20° high, 



reassumed the horseshoe form at the latter point, and its rays undulated through every part of 



this figure like the waves of the sea or a rolling volume of smoke. 

 During these last-mentioned changes, the needle retraced its course, as shown in the last three 



notices, and remained stationary at 38° 5', while the Aurora formed a zone that encircled the 



horizon at an elevation of 30°, in which shape it remained a few minutes and then disappeared." 



— Ibid., p. cli. 



December 8, 1825. 



"Aurora visible. Motion from N. W. by N. along a band of light stretching to the eastward, ele- 

 vated 15° and about 2° broad. The colors very vivid; motion rapid. Needle stationary for five 

 minutes at this position. Motion returning from the eastward, along the band, to N. W. by N. 

 The needle stationary at this position for five minutes, during which interval the light was rushing 

 from each extreme of the band, meeting in the'N. by E. point. There was but little display of 

 color. The motion from the N. W. prevailed. A stream of light about 20° broad darted across 

 the zenith from N. W. by N. to S. S. E. A beam darted from the zenith to N. W. by N., fol- 

 lowed by the whole mass that had ascended from this point. Motion along the first-mentioned 

 band from N. W. by N. to the eastward. A stream from N. W. by N. to the zenith. A beam 

 from zenith to N. by E. Needle stationary for some minutes, the motion rolling from opposite 

 directions of the arch that extended from N. W. by N. to east, and clashing in the centre. 

 Motion from N. W. by N, in nearly a horizontal direction, to W. S. W. Stationary for five 

 minutes. A stream of an irregular shape darted from N. W. by N. to S. S. E. across the zenith. 

 Aurora generally diffused in filmy streams without motion. Motion from E. S. E. to N. W. 

 by N. in a band similar to that first described. Interval of time, between midnight and 25 

 minutes after that hour. 

 At lh. 20m. a. m., the Aurora appeared in an arch from N. E. to north, but motionless. 

 General Remarks. — The changes in the coruscations were so various and rapid as to render their 

 description impossible. The band of light first mentioned as extending horizontally from N. W, 

 by N. to the eastward, remained nearly the whole time." — Ibid., p. clii. 



Fort Franklin..— Lat. 65° 11' 56" N. Long. 123° 12' 44" W. November, 1849. Hooper. 



"20th. The day pretty fine and calm. A fine Aurora in the night. 

 21st. Very fine, clear, and cold. A most splendid Aurora at night, spreading in waved lines all 

 over the sky." — Hooper's Journal, p. 161. 



December, 1849. 



" 4th. Weather stormy, wind strong and squally from N. W. Late in the evening it cleared up a 

 little, and a curious appearance of Aurora was visible to the northward, fringing the upper edge 

 of a heavy 'nimbus.' 

 5th. Clear, very fine, and cold. Calm until towards sunset, when the wind rose from N. E. and 

 increased much and quickly, coming in smart squalls, no doubt blowing with great force in an 

 open space, our position being greatly sheltered. 

 The night fine and very cold; a few windy clouds in the sky. Fantastically flitting rays and streaks 



