RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 85 



November 1. 



"There was an Aurora at night, but not brilliant." — Ibid., p. 216. 



November 21. 



"A very faint Aurora was seen in the southeastern horizon." — Ibid., p. 223. 



November 24, 25. 



"There was a brilliant Aurora to the southwest, extending its red radiance as far as the zenith. 

 The wind vacillated on the following day, and there was a still more brilliant one in the evening, 

 increasing in splendor till midnight, and persisting till the following morning. It constituted a 

 bright arch, the extremities of which seemed to rest on two opposed hills, while its color was 

 that of the full moon, and itself seemed not less luminous; though the dark and somewhat blue 

 sky by which it was backed was a chief cause, I have no doubt, of the splendor of its effect. 

 We can conjecture what the appearance of Saturn's ring must be to the inhabitants of that planet; 

 but here the conjecture was perhaps verified, so exactly was the form and light of this arch what 

 we must conceive of that splendid planetary appendage when seen crossing the Saturnian heavens. 

 It varied, however, at length, so much as to affect this fancied resemblance; yet with an increase 

 of brilliancy and interest. While the mass, or density, of the luminous matter was such as to 

 obscure the constellation Taurus, it proceeded to send forth rays in groups, forming such angular 

 points as are represented in the stars of jewelry, and illuminatiug the objects on land by their cor- 

 uscations. Two bright nebula; of the same matter afterwards appeared beneath the arch, sending 

 forth similar rays, and forming a still stronger contrast with the dark sky near the horizon. 

 About one o'clock it began to break up into fragments and nebula; ; the coruscations becoming 

 more frequent and irregular until it .suddenly vanished at four." — Ibid., p. 223-4. 



December 2. 



"A black cloud in the southern horizon would have prevented the sun from being seen, though it 

 had still risen above that line, as it did the day before. The magnetic observatory was erected, 

 and the other one commenced. At midnight there was a magnificent arch of an Aurora, but it 

 was only five degrees high. The color was a light yellow, and it emitted rays ; finally breaking 

 up and disappearing about one o'clock." — Ibid., p. 227. 



December 9. 



"The temperature fell to 26° minus in the evening, and there was an insignificant Aurora."— 

 Ibid., p. 228. 



December 18. 



"There was another beautiful Aurora this day." — Ibid., p. 229. 



December 19. 



"Clouds obscured the Aurora of yesterday, though it was still partially visible, as if occupying the 

 whole space from east to west." — Ibid., p. 229. 



December 20. 



"The Aurora still continued; and, in want of other variety, it afforded us amusement amid this 

 wearisome uniformity. 

 After the Aurora had ceased, it recommenced at night in a more brilliant form, with bright flashes 

 amid its other varieties, disappearing a little after midnight. The clearness of the sky overhead 

 was such, that we could see perfectly well in the cabin at midday, even through the double sky- 

 light, though it was covered with snow. Outside the ship, the smallest print could be read dis- 

 tinctly."— Ibid., p. 230. 



December 24. 



"There was again an Aurora; another to add to a succession of these appearances more regular and 

 durable than any which had been experienced in the former voyage to this climate."— Ibid., p. 231. 



