64 RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 



turns, visible at one instant, and in the next succeeded by another hue. There was a perpetually 

 shifting fringe, at one moment of an exquisite violet, and then again of a grass-green tint; these 

 were the predominant colors, but all others, in every variety of shade, were here aud there shown. 

 A more exquisite or more gorgeous spectacle cannot be imagined. I shall never again begrudge 

 the time spent in our exile here, since in it I have beeu privileged to enjoy so perfect a specimen 

 of the king wonder of natural pheuomena. 



We knew very well that this appearance betokened wind, and this rose with the moon about three 

 hours later, the Aurora of course becoming faint as the darkness decreased. 



2d. The wind blew freshly all night from the N. E., and did not abate any with sunrise. In the 

 afternoon, it increased considerably, and the sky became covered with clouds; 'cumulus' above, 

 and 'stratus' on the horizon. The weather clear; a slight snow drift. 



I am more than ever confirmed in my conviction that the Aurora is frozen dew or vapor, 

 illumined by, or rather reflecting, the light of the frozen masses round the pole, or perhaps only 

 by that from the surrounding snow-clad earth. That it must be congealed vapor suspended 

 in the atmosphere and existing in atomic particles, I hold to more than all, from its instant 

 motion with the slightest breeze, and from the resemblance of that motion, when the mass is 

 strongly excited, to that of a cloud of dust raised by a strong breeze ; the same eddy-like twist- 

 ing, the same rolling and folding motion, and of one volume into and over another, &c. 



7th. Late last night there were beautiful 'tremors' visible, principally displayed near the zenith. 

 A fresh breeze set in from the N. E., but declined at daybreak. 



12th. The Aurora was finely displayed last night in 'tremors,' and this morning there was a strong 

 breeze from the west, with a heavy snow drift. 



13th. A strong breeze all day from westward, and a heavy drift, moderating at night, which 

 was fine. Aurora dully displayed in two long arches, one to the north and the other to the 

 southward. 



14th. Pretty fine; a fresh breeze from west both here and on the lake; weather not very cold; the 

 night mild and rather cloudy. Aurora displayed in much the same manner as last night, and, 

 towards morning, brightly and in various directions. 



15th. Very fine and very mild. The night calm and fine, displaying Aurora as in the early part 

 of last night. 



lGth. A most lovely day; clear, warm, and sunny, thawing in the sun. A light northerly air 

 here; calm on the Great Lake. In the eveuiug, the clouds gathered over to the east and south, 

 threatening wind. In the night, there was a beautiful Aurora all over the sky, in vertical 

 short rays, rolling and folding over each other, while at W. by S. a segment commenced, leading 

 towards the zenith eastward, but breaking and mingling with the mass of Aurora at about 

 60° altitude."— Ibid., pp. 168-70. 



Duke of York's Bay (Southampton Island).— Lat. 65° 28' 13" N. Long. 84° 40' 07" W. 

 August 15, 1821. Parry. 



"The Aurora Borealis was visible during the whole of the night, consisting of many luminous patches 

 or nebuloe, having, when viewed together, a tendency to form an arch, and extending from south 

 by east to southwest, and sometimes to west, its height in the centre being 15°. From this arch, 

 pencils of rays shot upwards towards the zenith. 

 It differed from any other phenomenon of this kind that I have seen, in being at times of a 

 beautiful orange color." — 2 Parry, 39. 



At Sea.— Lat. 65° 50' N. Long. 61° W. September 26, 1818. Robertson. 



"About nine in the evening, the Aurora Borealis was seen very brilliant in every point of bearing, 

 shooting bundles of rays of unequal length to the zenith. 

 This Aurora was first seen through a thick mist in the zenith; as the mist passed away the Aurora 



