RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 83 



As soon as Mr. Fisher was acquainted with this circumstance, he applied the electrometer to the 



chain, but, as usual, without any perceptible effect on the gold leaf. 

 The Aurora Borealis had been visible to the southivard for some hours during the night, but had 



disappeared for half an hour before the flash was seen." — Ibid., p. 386. 



February 15, 1823. 



"On the 15th, some remarkable clouds were hanging over the open water to the eastward, appearing 

 like vast volumes of smoke curling into rounded and almost circular forms. This peculiarity we 

 never observed at any other time, though there was constantly a 'water-sky' in that direction, 

 consisting of a general and diffused darkness, varied occasionally by numerous vertical columns 

 of 'frost smoke.'"— Ibid., p. 407. 



N. B. — 1. Remarkable clouds hanging over the open water to the eastward. 

 2. Constantly a water-sky in that direction. 



March, 1823. 



"At the close of the month of March, we were glad to find that its mean temperature, being — 19.75°, 

 when taken in conjunction with those of January and February, appeared to constitute a mild 

 winter for this latitude. There were, besides, some other circumstances which served to dis- 

 tinguish this winter from any preceding one we had passed in the ice. One of the most remark- 

 able of these was the frequent occurrence of hard and well-defined clouds; a feature we had 

 hitherto considered as almost unknown in the winter sky of the polar regions. 

 It is not improbable that these may have in part owed their origin to a large extent of sea keeping 

 open to the southeastward throughout the winter, though they not only occurred with the wind 

 from that quarter, but also with the colder weather usually accompanying northwesterly breezes." 

 —Ibid., p. 418. 



N. B. — Hard and well-defined clouds were of frequent occurrence ; a feature hitherto considered 

 as almost unknown in the polar regions. 



"Another peculiarity observed in this winter was the rare occurrence of the Aurora Borealis, and 

 the extraordinary poorness of its display whenever it did make its appearance. 

 It was almost invariably seen to the southward, between an E. S. E. and a W. S. W. bearing, gene- 

 rally low, the stationary patches of it having a tendency to form an irregular arch, and not 

 unfrequently with coruscations shooting towards the zenith. When more diffused, it still kept, 

 in general on the southern side of the zenith ; but uever exhibited any of those rapid and com- 

 plicated movements observed in the course of the preceding winter, nor, indeed, any feature that 

 renders it necessary to attempt a particular description. 

 The electrometer was frequently tried by Mr. Fisher, at times when the state of the atmosphere 

 appeared the most favorable, but always without any sensible effect being produced on the gold 

 leaf."— Ibid., p. 420. 



N. B. — 1. Another peculiarity observed in this winter was the rare occurrence of the Aurora 

 Borealis, and the poorness of its display. 



2. It was almost invariably seen to the southward. 



3. Electrometer frequently tried, 



4. But always without any effect on the gold leaf. 



Igloolik.— Lat. 69° 15' N. Long. 81° 45' W. March, 1823. Lyon. 



" During the dark season, I mean the time that we did not at all see the sun, it was remarked with 

 astonishment that the Aurora Borealis was very rarely seen, in fact only once or twice, and then 

 so faintly as scarcely to call our attention." — Lyon (Private Journal), p. 306. 



At Sea (Davis's Strait).— Lat, 69° 30' N. September, 1825. Parry. 



"In running down Davis's Strait, as well as in crossing the Atlantic, we saw on this passage, as 

 well ns in :ill former autumnal ones, a srnnd rlcfil of the Aurora Boreali*. 



