92 RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 



At seven on the following morning-, it became more brilliant and stationary, describing a well- 

 defined arch, extending from the E. S. E. horizon to that at W. N. W., and passing through the 

 zenith. A very faint arch was also visible on each side of this, appearing to diverge from the 

 same points in the horizon, 1 and separating to twenty degrees' distance in the zenith. 



It remained thus for twenty minutes, when the coruscations from each arch met, and, after a short 

 but brilliant display of light, gradually died away." — Ibid., p. CO. 



N. B. — 1. This winter afforded very few brilliant displays. 



2. This night appeared partially in different parts of the southern sky. 



3. At 7 next a. m., arch from E. S. E. to W. N. W. passing through the zenith. 



4. A very faint arch visible on each side of this. 



5. After a short but brilliant display, died away. 



January 15, 1825. 



"Early on the morning of the 15th of January the Aurora broke out to the southward, and continued 



variable for three hours between a N. W. and S. E. bearing. 

 From three to four o'clock, the whole horizon from south to west was brilliantly illuminated, the 



light being continuous almost throughout the whole extent, and reaching several degrees in 



height. Very bright vertical rays were constantly shooting upwards from the general mass. 

 At half-past five, it again became so brilliant as to attract particular notice, describing tiro arches 



passing in an east and west direction very near the zenith, with bright coruscations issuing from 



it; but the whole gradually disappeared with the returning dawn. 

 At dusk the same evening, the Aurora again appeared in the southern quarter, and continued 



visible nearly the whole night, but without any remarkable feature."— Ibid., p. 61. 



N. B. — 1. Early a. in., Aurora broke out to the southward. 



2. From 3h. to 4h. a. m., whole horizon from S. to W. brilliantly illuminated. 



3. Very bright vertical rays shooting upward. 



4. At 5h. 30m., again became very brilliant. 



5. Describing two arches passing in an E. and W. direction very near the zenith. 



January 27, 1825. 



"About midnight on the 27th of January, this phenomenon broke out in a single compact mass of 

 brilliant yellow light, situated about a S. E. bearing, and appearing only a short distance above 

 the land. This mass of light, notwithstanding its general continuity, sometimes appeared to be 

 evidently composed of numerous pencils of rays, compressed, as it were laterally, into one, its 

 limits both to the right and left being well defined and nearly vertical. The light, though very 

 bright at all times, varied almost constantly in intensity, and this had the appearance (not an 

 uncommon one in the Aurora) of being produced by one volume of light overlaying another, just 

 as we see the darkness and density of smoke increased by cloud rolling over cloud. 



While Lieutenants Sherer and Ross and myself were admiring the extreme beauty of this pheno- 

 menon from the observatory, we all simultaneously uttered an exclamation of surprise at seeing 

 a bright ray of the Aurora shoot suddenly downward from the general mass of light, and between 

 us and the land, which was there distant only three thousand yards. 



Had I witnessed this phenomenon by myself, I should have been disposed to receive with caution 

 the evidence even of my own senses as to this last fact; but the appearance conveying precisely 

 the same idea to three individuals at once, all intently engaged in looking towards the spot, I 

 have no doubt that the ray of light actually passed within that distance of us."— Ibid., pp. 61, 62. 



N. B. — 1. About midnight, broke out in a single mass of brilliant yellow light, S. E. 



2. Only a short distance from the land. 



3. Bright ray of the Aurora shot down from general mass of light between us and the land. 



1 I am aware that this appearance is usually referred to the effect of viewing the phenomenon in perspective; but I 

 here describe appearances only. 



