t 

 RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 107 



December 4, 1853. 



Two a. m. A very slight illumination noted to S. W. 



December 8, 1853. 



Three a. rn. Same, more defined, from N. E., at altitude of 30°, passing through the zenith and 

 lost in diffused light. 



December 24, 1853. 



Tour to eight a. m. Bright ' spots ' described by watch on the horizon to S. W. Perhaps auroral. 



December 29, 1853. 



Twelve (noon) to four p. ra. Light illumination above northern horizon. 



January 27, 1854. 



Five a.m. to eight a. m. Brilliant Aurora of same character as that of November 26; no colors; 

 needle undisturbed ; altitude 70°. 



January 28, 1854. 



Twelve (midnight). A slight auroral light, extending from S. E. to N. in a belt. 



February 4, 1854. 



Four hours thirty minutes a. m. Bright arch to W: and N. W. extending towards zenith. 



February 5, 1854. 



Seven p. m. Auroral arc ; altitude of centre of segment 35°; direction from N. to E. N. E. 



November 13, 1854. 



Four p. m. Nebulous patches S. and S. W. (Too light to observe.) 



November 18, 1854. 



Six p. m. A belt seen to S. W. 



November 22, 1854. 



Two a. m. Slight approach to arch-like arrangement. 



December 14, 1854. 



Ten p. m. Tolerably defined arc passing through zenith ; limbs lost about 40° above horizon ; 

 quite anomalous. 



January 7, 1855. 



Twelve to two a. m. Bright patch of illumination about 15° above horizon, S. by W., as seen from 

 outside floes. 



February 10, 1855. 



Two a. m. Diffused light with slight motion, S. by W. 



General Remarks. — During second winter only were marked exhibitions noted. In but two 

 instances — viz : January 27, 1854, and February 10, 1855 — was any motion detected allied to 

 'merry dancers' of the south. The processes had no apparent connection with the magnetic 

 dip, and iu no case did the needle of our unifilar indicate disturbance. The scintillations 

 noted November 26 were very imperfect. The general character of the display was analogous 

 to that of Lancaster Sound, but less intense in illumination, wanting in definition, and having 

 no uniform relation to any quarter of the compass." — Kane's Expedition through Baffin's Bay 

 to the Open Polar Sea, Lat. 82° 30' N. 



