178 Aurora Borealis. 
riable with respect to the magnetic meridian. Meanwhile, the twi- 
light of the northern sky had moved slowly southward, its boundary 
spanning the firmament from west to east in a well defined zone, until 
it left only a segment of the southern hemisphere, about 30 degrees 
in altitude. This portion of the heavens, thrown as it was into stri- 
king contrast with the illuminated parts of the sky appeared of a 
dark slate color, and exhibited the interesting spectacle of stars 
seeming to shine brightly through a stratum of black clouds. 
These phenomena played off various interesting evolutions, until 
fifteen minutes after 10 o’clock ;* when suddenly the meteor rallied 
all its forces. Innumerable spindles, of silvery lustre, darted from 
the crimson folds of light that hung around the sky, and all pointed 
towards the common focus; and sheets of a thin vapor of mingled 
white and red, flowed over these, and wreathed themselves around 
the same point in wavy folds. A universal stillness reigned ; and 
the ground itself, now covered with snow, which exhibited a delicate 
rosy tint, contributed to enhance the beauty of the scene. It will be 
obvious, also, to one that reflects on the position of the principal con- 
stellations, at that time, that a large portion of all the brightest of the 
stars, were assembled on the spot. Sirius and Procyon, 
Castor and Pollux, Capella and Aldebaran, were arranged around 
the field in striking array, along with Jupiter and Mars, which chan- 
ced to be present on the occasion, and both at the period of their 
greatest splendor. 
So delicate was the auroral covering that the light of the stars was 
but little obscured by it. The clusters of small stars in the head of 
Orion, when most enveloped, was still distinctly visible ; and the two 
planets appeared through a dense mass of red vapor with seemingly 
augmented splendor. Mars, especially, seemed peculiarly in his 
element. In these various attributes of grandeur and beauty, the 
present greatly exceeded all former exhibitions of the aurora ; but 
there were wanting the auroral waves, or Merry Dancers, which 
made so conspicuous a figure in the great display of November, 1835. 
Although the moon was shining in the east, and but little past the 
full, yet the distinctness of the auroral. lights seemed scarcely im- 
paired by it. This is remarkable: perhaps there is not more than 
one instance on record, when so splendid an exhibition of the aurora 
was witnessed in the presence of so full a moon. 
ciilen 
It appears from the observations made b 
by Prof. Dewey, at Dae N.Y: 
that this return of the aurora was about an hour earlier there than her : 
