RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 69 



December 20, 1821. 



"From Tli. till lOh. p. m. on the 20th, while engaged in making observations upon the ice, we observed 

 the Aurora almost constantly appearing, though varying in its form and situation. It com- 

 menced with a number of vertical coruscations from the S. E., S., and N. W. horizons, darting 

 nearly as high as the zenith. This being discontinued after half an hour, the leg of an arch 

 appeared at E. S. E. inclining towards the south, which remained nearly unaltered for three- 

 quarters of an hour, its light being of a yellow cast and remarkably brilliant. After this an 

 arch was gradually formed by the light extending over to W. N. W., the brightest portion of it 

 being still that in the eastern quarter. The arch was irregular, and sometimes not continuous, 

 but divided into a number of luminous patches like nebula. 



We also noticed, and now remembered to have done so once before, that there were in some places 

 narrow but long horizontal separations of the light, appearing like so many dark parallel streaks 

 lying over it, which, however, they were not, as the stars were here most plainly visible. 



The magnetic needle was not affected. 



This night was one of the clearest we had during the winter, the milky way appearing unusually 

 bright and well defined."— Ibid., p. 141. 



N. B 1. From 7h. till lOh. p.m., Aurora constantly appearing. 



2. Commenced with vertical coruscations from the S. E., S., and N. W. horizons. 



3. Arch from E. S. E. to W. N. W. 



4. The magnetic needle was not affected. 



5. One of the clearest nights of the winter. 



December 22, 1821. 



"On the 22d, the electrometer was tried, the wind being light from the N. W., with overcast weather, 

 and some very small snow falling; but no perceptible effect was produced upon the gold leaf. 

 In the evening, the Aurora appeared like a white cloud in the E. S. E. At half past nine, an 

 irregular arch extended from that point of the horizon to the S. W., the breadth being from one 

 to two degrees, though constantly varying, and its height in the middle ten degrees. 

 When this kind of arch appears most perfect, it is less frequently than any other kind attended with 

 coruscations or very rapid motion in the light. When these do accompany it, they are almost 

 invariably observed to proceed from the upper side of the arch only." — Ibid., p. 145. 



N. B. — 1. Electrometer tried; no effect on the gold leaf. 

 2. Aurora appeared like a white cloud in the S. E. 



December 23, 1821. 



"In the evening of the 23d, though the wind was from the N. W., a number of small roundish 

 clouds, very unusual here at this season, rose from the S. E., and the sky was very prettily 

 illuminated in the intervals by the Aurora. These clouds remaining quite dark in their appear- 

 ance, except about their edges, even during the most brilliant display of the Aurora, seemed to 

 indicate that the latter phenomenon was the most distant of the two. The light of the Aurora 

 was, as usual, much the brightest in the S. E. quarter. 



This phenomenon again made its appearance very beautifully on the 24th, resembling, in most 

 particulars, that described on the 14th. It was principally confined to the southern half of the 

 heavens, and the streamers and coruscations, though almost infinitely varied, had an evident 

 tendency to arch from E. by S. over to the opposite horizon. 



The 'merry dancers' were also playing about with indescribable rapidity, and many of the sheets 

 of light, when they overlapped in meeting, had a very perceptible lilac tinge." — Ibid., p. 145. 



December 28, 1821. 



"On the morning of the 28th, the Aurora Borcalis appeared faintly to the westward from four to 

 six o'clock. Early on the following morning, it was observed to form an arch of very bright 

 light from S. E. to S. S. W., its centre being 30 c high. In its general form it was quite sta- 

 tionary, as, indeed, the more perfect arches usually are, but varied occasionally in the intensity 

 of the light and also in its continuity. 



