RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 95 



Captain Austin's Winter Quarters.— Lat. 74° 10' N. Long. 94° 16' W. 



December, 1S50. 



"The Aurora Borcalis, which has hitherto afforded other voyagers so much interest, and which some 

 writers allege to be almost constant in these regions, has not yet presented itself with any striking 

 effect to our notice, except on the night of the 1st of December. A very complete arch in a 

 N. N. W. and S. S. E. (true) direction, passing through the zenith, divided the celestial concave 

 into two equal parts. It measured about 5° in width ; it lasted about half an hour, and was of 

 a whitish color. Towards the north, it became tinged with red before it disappeared. The 

 stars were seen through it with great brilliancy ; they assumed for the time the same color as 

 the Aurora. 

 Some bright coruscations were seen on the morning of the 5th, shooting from the S. E. towards 

 the zenith." — Arctic Miscellanies, pp. 113-14. 



January, 1851. 



" The Aurora Borealis has been observed eleven times during the month, but generally of a faint 

 tinge. It has appeared in the form of an arch, touching the W. W. and S. E. quarters of the 

 horizon ; also in an arc between the S. W. and E. S. E. points, the altitude of the centre being 

 25°. Coruscations have been seen to cross the sky from various points of the horizon, and 

 diverge in a variety of directions. During its presence, the heavenly bodies were always very 

 bright. Many theories are advanced concerning these phenomena, one of which being that they 

 move in columns parallel with the magnetic meridian, which is at variance with its movement in 

 this locality."— Ibid., pp. 191-98. 



February, 1851. 



"The Aurora Borealis has been seen more frequently, though never with that brilliancy by which it 

 is often characterized in these regions. The number of observations in the month, of any 

 importance, amounts to twelve. The coruscations, when detached, flitted from various points of 

 the horizon, in light fleecy clouds, towards the zenith, sometimes of a straw color. When it 

 has appeared in an arch, its direction has been nearly north and south, passing across the zenith. 

 On the evening of the 20th, luminous beams of the Aurora were frequent from the southwest to 

 the northwest points, and continued for several hours. On the following day we had fresh winds 

 from the southwest. It has been observed that when this phenomenon appears unusually intense 

 in any particular quarter, that a strong breeze has succeeded it from that particular direction of 

 the compass." — Ibid., pp. 250-51. 



March, 1851. 



"The Aurora has appeared bright on four occasions; generally in the form of an arch, from the 

 southeast quarter towards the north. On the night of the 25th, it was more brilliant than on 

 any other occasion this season, making an arch from the southeast to the north, with corusca- 

 tions shooting off laterally from it toward the zenith." — Ibid., p. 291. 



Lancaster Sound.— Near Lat. 74° 18' 08" N. Long. 82° 10' 18" "W. Dec, 1850. Kane. 



" 26th. Faint Aurora at noon, to the southward. An Aurora in form of a bow, passing through the 



zenith in a N. W. and S. E. direction. 

 27th. An Aurora visible at 5 a. m. ; at 6 a. m., another one. In the afternoon, an Aurora passing 



through the zenith in a north and south direction, 10 p. m. 

 28th. Auroras visible; one passing 30° from the zenith, in form of an arch, to the westward, 1 



a. m. and 8 a. m. 

 29th. An Aurora passing near the zenith in an east and west direction, 4 a. m. 

 31st. Auroras visible ; one appeared in the form of an arch, extending to the horizon, in N. N. E. 



and S. W. direction, passing 15° from the zenith, 10 p. m." — 1 Kane, 523. 



