418 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



most tremendous storms I was ever exposed to, sue- 

 ceeded a splendid exhibition of the northern lights. 

 From an intelligent old man, one of the Lerwick 

 .pilots, I received , the following information on the 

 connection supposed to exist between certain ap- 

 pearances of the northern lights, and the weather. 

 When seen in the north-west quarter, resting near 

 the horizon, without extending their rays to the 

 zenith, they are (in winter) considered indicative 

 of calm frosty weather. When they appear in bril- 

 liant display, extending towards the south-west, a 

 gale of wind is to be expected ; or, extending to- 

 wards the south-east, a southerly gale, with rain or 

 sleet ; and, when they are seen at a considerable al- 

 titude above the horizon, having a red or copper 

 colour, and shooting their rays into the zenith, 

 they are supposed to be indicative of a violent storm. 

 The first and the last of these observations corre- 

 spond with general experience ; but of the accuracy 

 of the intermediate opinion, I have had no oppor- 

 tunity of judging. Neither have I had opportuni- 

 ty of observing any agitation of the magnetic needle, 

 or any peculianties of an electrical nature, in the 

 lower atmosphere, during the prevalence of the nor- 

 thern lights. These are subjects which I yet hope 

 to have the means of investigating. 



