66 RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 



Winter Island.— Lat. 6G° 11' 25" N. Long. 83° 10' W. November 15-16, 1821. Tarry. 



" At thirty minutes past nine a. m. on the 15th, the weather being rather cloudy and a light breeze 

 blowing from the southward, the electrometer was tried, and again at nine p. m. on the 16th, at 

 which time the Aurora Borealis, consisting of a stationary white light near the horizon, was 

 visible in the & by E. quarter of the heavens ; but in neither case was the gold-leaf in the 

 slightest degree affected." — 2 Parry, 133. 



N. B. — 1. At 9h. 30m. a. m. electrometer tried, and again on the 16th at 9h. p. m.; 



2. At which time Aurora Borealis was visible in the S. by E. quarter — stationary light ; 



3. But in neither case was the gold leaf affected. 



November 11-18, 1821. 



" At 8h. p. m. of the 1 "7th, the Aurora Borealis was seen, consisting of a stationary li/jht occupying 



a very small portion of the heavens in the S. E. by E. quarter, and close to the horizon, from 



which, at times, vivid flashes shot across the zenith nearly to the opposite horizon. 



After ten p. m., the stationary light shifted more to the southward, and then gradually disappeared. 



At ten p. m. on the 18th, this phenomenon assumed a similar appearance in the S. by W. quarter." 



—Ibid., p. 133. 



November 23-24, 1821. 



"On the evening of the 23d, the Aurora Borealis made its appearance in the northwest, vivid corus- 

 cations shooting at times across the zenith to the opposite horizon. The gold leaf of the elec- 

 trometer was not perceptibly affected by it. 



On the morning of the 24th, it was again faintly seen in irregular streams of white light, extending 

 from the western horizon to the zenith. For several hours the same night, also, this extraordinary 

 phenomenon was visible from the southeast, round by south, to west, being principally confined 

 to a space about five degrees above the horizon. 



The magnetic needle, which was attentively watched, teas not at all affected by any of these phe- 

 nomena." — Ibid., p. 135. 



N. B. — 1. Gold leaf of electrometer not affected. 

 2. Magnetic needle not at all affected. 



November 26-28, 1821. 



"On the 26th, both in the morning and evening, the Aurora again appeared from S. E. to S. W., 

 the brightest part being about ten degrees above the horizon, and with pencils of rays shooting 

 upwards towards the zenith. In almost every instance, it is observable that the light, however 

 irregularly disposed in other respects, has a tendency to assume an arch-like form; but I think a 

 plane bisecting the arch would more generally have coincided with the true than the magnetic 

 meridian in the phenomena we had here an opportunity of observing. This was particularly 

 the case on the morning of the 2tth, when, at 6h. a. m., the Aurora formed one broad, con- 

 tinuous, and well-defined arch, its centre passing rather to the southward of the zenith, and its 

 legs appearing to rest upon the horizon at east and west. 



For several hours on the evening of the 28th, it was seen in the S. E. with rays darting rapidly 

 up nearly as high as the zenith. There is almost always one stationary jmtch of light near the 

 horizon, appearing, as it were, the source whence the shifting or variable part of the phenomenon 

 proceeds. 



It will be seen from about this period, hoie much more frequently the Aurora seemed to issue from 

 the southeastern quarter than from any other during the rest of the winter." — Ibid., p. 135. 



N. B.— 1. Appeared from S. W. to S. E. (26th). 



2. However irregularly disposed in other respects, has a tendency to assume an arch-like form. 



3. Plane bisecting the arch generally coincided with the true meridian. 



4. Evening of 28th, seen in S. E. 



5. Almost always a stationary patch of light near the horizon. 



6. From about this period, Aurora seemed to issue more frequently from S. E. quarter 



than from any other. 



