RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 63 



4th. The day cloudy and mild. In the evening, an Aurora visible from N. by W. to N. E., of 



which I give one phase; but it was ever changing in appearance. 

 8th. About an hour before daybreak, there was a curious Aurora visible. Late in the day, the 



wind became fresh, and, accompanied by a One driving snow, made the weather very cold. The 



evening was cold, with a little snow; and moderate wind from west. Aurora showing all night, 



flying about all over the sky. 

 9th. The night was at first very cold, the breath being slightly audible, but later the weather 



became calm, misty, and much milder. A fine Aurora was visible. 

 10th. At night the wind was fresh, a little snow fell, and the temperature was very low. A faint 



Aurora visible, similar in form and position to that of last night. 

 11 th. The night calm and cold. Aurora during the night to the northward. 

 12th. Before daylight, a fine Aurora was displayed to the southward, afterwards shifting to the 



north. A moderate breeze from the west. 

 13th. A fine Aurora was visible about three hours before daybreak to the southward; the sky 



clear. The day very fine, calm, and tolerably mild; a haze on the horizon. Read prayers. 



The night Cue and cold; the breath being audible. Beautiful phases of the Aurora visible 



during the night in all parts of the sky. 

 14th. Here it was quite calm, but on the Lake there was a very fresh breeze from the west. Yery 



fine appearances of the Aurora all night; uncolored, and inconstant in position. 

 15th. Last night and this morning there fell a sort of rime, which was in so minute particles as to 



be almost invisible. I fancy this must be frozen dew; perhaps it is this which forms the Aurora; 



by reflection from the snow. The night fine and very cold. Beautiful Auroras throughout. 

 16th. We consider this the coldest day we have had here, the wind being strong and squally from 



N. E. In the sunshine to-day, I observed the atmosphere crowded with frozen particles sparkling 



brilliantly, like motes in a sunbeam. All night, beautiful phases of Aurora visible. 

 11th. The night was cold and clear; Auroras showing all night. It is impossible to picture them, 



so various and inconstant were their positions aud forms. 

 1 8th. Very fine ; not a speck in the sky. The sun's warmth is now beginning to be perceptible, 



but the air is, notwithstanding, very cold. A light breeze from the west. 

 The night fine and cold; Aurora displayed in a very beautiful manner; all the sky from E. S. E., 



through north, to west, was covered with broken vertical lines in waves coruscating towards the 



zenith, and in slight motion. To the southward, was a long low arch, of perhaps 15° altitude 



at the centre. There was a light northwesterly air. 

 22d. Just after sunset, the wind increased greatly, becoming also squally, and the weather getting 



correspondingly cold. Beautiful Auroras during the night. 

 25th. Very fine and clear; wind N.W., moderate; the same on the Great Bear Lake; the weather 



mild. The night very fine, and, late, cold. 

 Beautiful Auroras visible, one of which, extending from E. N. E. to N. W., was shaped like a huge 



mustache, its centre about 20° north of the zenith. Another appeared as below attempted. 

 27th. The night very fine and very cold, the breath being again audible. Calm on Bear Lake. 

 When the moon had risen to about 12' of altitude, there was a very pretty Aurora about her; the 



rays tinted pale yellowish-green, which hue I have always observed them to take when the 



moon is near the full. 

 Beautiful 'tremors' all night, moving rapidly over the heavens, and of the same pale-green hue. 



Whenever I have seen these rapid movements of the Aurora, wind has shortly followed." — 



Ibid., p. 167. 



February, 1850. 



"1st. Last night was very cold, and Aurora was displayed in a beautiful manner from N. E. to N. 

 in 'tremors' and rolling folds. 

 The evening was very cold, fine, and clear. About lOh. p. m., we viewed one of the most exquisite 

 spectacles we ever beheld. The Aurora had been for some time visible, and it now spread over 

 all the sky, excepting to the southward, and kept an incessant motion, whirling, dancing, and 

 darting around with lightning-like rapidity. All the colors of the rainbow were displayed by 



