ewes 
& 
British Association for the Advancement of Science. 19 
ceiver—Mr. Adams confirmed the statements made by Prof. 
Henry as to the illuminating effects of the lateral discharge ; he 
had once seen upon the discharge of a large electrical battery, a 
wire splendidly illuminated by the lateral discharge, and exhibit- 
ing the coruscations spoken of by Prof. Henry. 
Aurora in Summer.—Prof. Christie then made a communica- 
tion ‘on the occurrence of the Aurora Borealis in summer.’ 
The occurrence of an aurora borealis in England, in the middle 
of summer, was, he believed, a phenomenon hitherto unrecorded. 
He then gave an account of several very striking exhibitions of 
this phenomenon, which he had observed during the last summer. 
One, on the 19th of May, 1837, presenting two bands of arches, 
radiating from the magnetic west, and extending nearly to the 
opposite horizon, was unaccompanied by streamers. Another, on 
the 24th June, exhibited the usual appearance of coruscation from 
the northern horizon, but no arches were visible. This aurora, 
which was the most singular from being observed in the very 
middle of summer, lasted from 11h. 46m. until 12h. 20m. P. M. 
Other auroras were observed on the Ist, 2nd, and 7th of July, and 
25th of August. On the last occasion, the author noticed a sin- 
gular phenomenon, which he had, on one occasion many years 
previous, observed, namely, that the darkness usually attending 
an aurora appeared to break into the light above it. He noticed 
that, on the former occasion, he observed the darkness to rush 
_ through, and finally break up, two well-defined arches of white 
light ; and recalled to the Section, that Capt. Back had described 
a very striking exhibition of a similar phenomenon, which he 
witnessed during his wintering at Fort Reliance. He particularly 
called attention to these and other phenomena, of the darkness 
exhibited in the aurora borealis, in connexion with the arches of 
light and the more brilliant coruscations. After recurring to other 
auroras which he had observed during the last summer, he inferred 
that it was probable that the aurora borealis was as frequently in 
activity in summer as during other seasons, though it might be 
‘Jess frequently visible. ‘The author further stated, that during 
the last twelve months, no period of a month had elapsed without 
the exhibition, in the south of England, of one or more auroras ; 
and pointed out the importance of inquiring into the cause af 
the now so frequent occurrence of a phenomenon, which some 
years back had been very rare. He concluded by expressing a 
