39 
a brilliant and well defined stream of light of the blood-red 
colour appeared a little to the south of west, and seemed to 
be a disjointed portion of the eastern red mass. A few minutes 
after its appearance, a large mass of white auroral light be- 
gan to rise rapidly from the northern horizon; at the same 
time the northern streamers became much more vivid, and 
took a fan-like appearance, converging to a point not far from 
the zenith. There was no appearance, however, of Corona. 
Shortly after, (about 10". 40’), a portion of the light of these 
streamers, about midway between a Ursz and Polaris, as- 
sumed the unusual blood-red tint, and continued of this 
colour for several minutes. 
** Before 11 o'clock all the peculiar appearances had 
nearly gone; and there remained nothing but the faint lu- 
minous clouds, with light streamers to the N. N.W. These 
streamers were still playing at 12 o’clock, and extended 
from the zenith to within about 30° of horizon. 
* The thermometer stood at 38° fahr., and the barometer 
at 29.786 inches. The wind was dry and piercing.”* 
* The following note, by Mr. Bergin, supplies the account of the early part of 
the phenomenon :— 
“On alighting at the Dunleary station at 7 o’clock, (from the Railway,) we 
observed a magnificently coloured crimson Aurora as a broad mass to the westward; 
’ and our first impression for a moment was, that it was the light from one of the en- 
gine furnaces reflected from a cloud of steam. It extended from near the horizon 
towards the zenith, with frequent flashes or streamers within itself. From the main 
mass, round by the north, and onward to the east, the whole sky had a crimson or 
; carmine tint; and were it not for the brilliant moon (near the full) I do believe 
the splendour would have equalled any I have ever heard of. * * * * The Aurora 
assumed the general appearance of an arch; the first observed mass to the westward 
being one leg which faded away toward the zenith, where there was a steady cir- 
cular patch of great brilliancy of colour, and from thence, separated by a small in- 
terval, was a faint limb descending to the eastern horizon. * * * * These appear- 
ances continued with scarcely any change till near 8 o’clock. About 9 o'clock the 
general appearances were much the same, save that the eastern limb of the arch 
was not visible, and the western much more intensely coloured, and like a steady 
column. * * * * Throughout, its limits had been well defined ; and it was perfectly 
transparent, stars of the third, and perhaps the fourth magnitude being seen 
through it.” 
