RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 77 



April, 1847. 



3d. At 8 p. m., a faint Aurora of an orange color; centre south ; altitude 5°."— Rac, pp. 225-239. 



"On the 3d of April, the thermometer rose above zero for the first time since the 12th of December. 

 As the Aurora was seldom noticed after this date, I may here make a few remarks on this subjWt. 

 It was often visible during the winter, and usually made its appearance first to the southward in 



the form of a faint yellow or straw-colored arch, which gradually rose up towards the zenith. 

 During our stay at Fort Hope, I never witnessed a finer display of this strange phenomenon than 



I had done at York Factory, nor did it on any occasion affect the horizontal needle as I had 



seen it do during the previous winter there. 

 The Esquimaux, like the Indians, assert that the Aurora produces a distinctly audible sound, and 



the generality of Orkney men and Zetlanders maintain the same opinion, although, for my own 



part, I cannot say that I ever heard any sound from it. 

 A fine display, particularly if the movements are rapid, is very often succeeded by stormy or 



snowy weather, but I have never been able to trace any coincidence between the direction of its 



motions and that of the wind." — Ibid., p. 96. 



Cape Espenburg (Behring's Sea).— Lat. 60° 34' 5G" N. Long. 103° 36' 38" W. Sept. 22, 

 1826. Beeciiey. 

 "On the 22d, the Aurora Borealis was seen in the W. N. W., from which quarter it passed rapidly 

 to the N.'e. and formed a splendid arch emitting vivid and brilliantly colored coruscations."— 

 Beechey, 1, p. 329. 



September 25, 1826. 



" During the night we had a brilliant display of the Aurora Borealis, remarkable for its masses of 

 bright light, It extended from N. E. to W., and at one time formed three arches."— Ibid., p. 330. 



Fort Confidenee.-Lat. 66° 53' 36" N. Long. 118° 48' 45" W. April, 1838. Simpson. 

 "Now that the constant daylight renders the Aurora Borealis no longer visible, I shall make one or 



two general remarks regarding it. Its most common appearance at Fort Confidence is an arch 



with little motion, passing through the zenith and spanning the heavens from northivest to sauth- 



east. Now, since the variation of the compass is here little more than four points easterly, it 



follows that there is a tendency in this remarkable phenomenon to dispose itself at right angles 



to the magnetic meridian. 

 In the depth of winter, thin white clouds, seen during the short imperfect daylight, in many 



instances proved to be the Aurora; which, also, not unfrequently appeared through a hazy sky. 



Its displays were seldom very brilliant, and it hardly ever exhibited those vivid prismatic tints 



which I had often admired in lower latitudes."— Simpson, p. 231. 

 " On the 24th of April, the thermometer rose at noon to the freezing point, for the first time since 



the 17th of October; a period of six months and a week 1 The mean temperature for the whole 



of that long and dismal interval is 14° below zero."— Ibid., 236. 



March 5, 1839. 



"This season, as I have already remarked, was less severe than its predecessor; and, as if it were a 

 consequence of the difference, the Aurora was more brilliant, displaying on several occasions 

 the prismatic hues ; but the same arched form from northwest to southeast predominated. Every 

 clear night, when not eclipsed by the moon, it was to be seen, but was brightest and most active 

 in the mornings some time before daylight. 

 At a quarter to four a. m., on the 5th of March, Ritch witnessed a most brilliant exhibition. It 

 formed a quadrant issuing from W. N. W. and extending to the zenith. There it doubled on 



