XII, — Description of an Aurora Borealis, seen 

 at Kirkhy Lonsdale, Westmorland, September 

 29^^, 1847. By William Sturgeon, Esq. 



(Read October 19th 1847.) 



A BEAUTIFUL display of the Aurora Borealis was 

 seen at this place, on Wednesday night, Septem- 

 ber 29th, 1847. The weather had been very 

 fine during the whole of the day, and nothing 

 unusual was observed, till after eight o'clock at 

 night. Between eight and nine, however, a 

 bright space in the heavens was observed to bor- 

 der the northern horizon, and soon afterwards a 

 black curvilinear cloud encompassed its upper 

 edge, having on its convex or upper margin, a 

 bright glowing segment of a circle, concentric 

 with the cloud within it. About nine o'clock, a 

 few faint streamers shot upwards from the glowing 

 bow. These first began on the eastern extremity 

 of the bow, but shortly afterwards from every 



