Aurora Bor calls, —Speaking Trumpet. 155 



times make their appearance unusually early in early seasons, 

 there are probably some of the species latent in this country 

 /during the period of their brumal disappearance. 



AURORA BOREALIS. 



This phaenomenon appeared again on Saturday night the Sth 

 inst. on which observations have, we understand, been made lu 

 London, at Derby, Leeds and other places, and also at Paris. 



Lc. ds. I'Vb. 15. 



"On Saturday the Sth inst. at seven o'clock we witnessed here a 

 fine display of the aurora horealh or northern lights. This singu- 

 lar phaenomenon continued without intermission for two hours, 

 during the whole of which time the sky was illuminated from the 

 horizon to the zenith, extending east and west for a considera- 

 ble distance. Broad streaks of light of various sizes rose from 

 the horizon in a pvraniidical, uirdulating form, and shot with 

 great velocity up to the zenith ; they changed their forms very 

 frequentlv and rapidly, and broke out in places where none were 

 «een before, shooting along the heavens, and then disappearing 

 in an instant. The sky in various places was tinged for a consi- 

 derable .space with a deep purple, and the stars shone very brightly 

 during the whole time through the clouds which formed the au- 

 rora borealh. A short time after this singular phaenomenon had 

 ceased, the rain began to descend, and continued to do so mobt 

 of the night, though not violently." 



Among the many indications of an early spring, after nearly 

 a year of unusually' wet and changeable weather, may be enu- 

 merated the early blowing of spring flowers. On the 28th oi 

 .lanuary the spring snow-flake and crocus were in full flower 

 in the neighbourhood of Hackney. 



SPEAKING TRUMPET. 



If the speaking trumpet used at sea had been made in anv 

 other form than that of a parabolic conoid, it would Iiave failed 

 greatly in its effect. It is surprising tliat this principle should 

 not have struck any one as the proper model for formiiii\ a trum- 

 pet for the collection of sound in cases of deafness. Mr. Curtis 

 of Soho-squarc, aurist to his royal highness the Prince Regent, 

 ha.s with mucli advantage applied this principle to a late contri- 

 vance, and emploved the instrument with great success in a num- 

 ber of cases of deafness : the same gentleman has also improved 

 the French invention of artificial ears,* by givinsr them great 

 power in the collection and transmission of sound. 



Lis.r 



