CBUISE OF STEAMER COEWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 95 



November 4 (midnight to 4 a. m.). — Fading arch from last evening, 9 p. m. to midnight. Faint arch in north. Fresh 



north wind all day. 

 November 5 (midnight to 3.40 a. in.). — Fading arch from last evening. Gale from south and snow the next day. 

 November 9 (8.30 to 11.40 p. m.). — Faiut arch in north, barely visible in moonlight. Gale from south in morning, and 



from north the next day. 

 December 4 (7 to 9.40 p. in.). — Plain arch in north. Falling temperature. Gale from east the next morning. 

 December 24 (8.30 to 11 p. in.). — Bright arch with rays and streamers. Gale from the east. 



1S81. 



January 22 (.8.20 to 11.10 p. in.). — Faint arch in the north. Gale from north the next day. 



January 30 (9.30 to midnight). — Arch in the north, pale yellow. South wind, light. 



January 31 (midnight to 6 a. in.).— A pair of beautiful straw-yellow arches formed in the north soon after midnight 

 from the single arch of last evening. Long pencils and sheets of light extended in waving motion upward 

 almost to the zenith (the maximum of this display was not seen) 5.30 p. m. to midnight. An arch in the 

 north threw out a few streamers toward midnight, but was far paler than the aurora of last evening. 

 Falling temperature. 



February 1 (midnight to 1.20 a. in.). — Faiut arch from last evening. North wind. Gale the next day. 



February 4. — Bright arch increasing in intensity and throwing out bright waves and pencils of light toward midnight. 

 Wind north. 



February 5 (midnight to 2 a. m.).— Conclusion of last night's display, 8.30 to 10.40 p. in. A faiut arc barely visible 

 in the north ; wind light and variable. 



February 18 (8.10 to 11.40 p. m.). — Faint arch in north. High east wind. 



February 19 (7.15 p.m. to midnight.). — Faint arch in north. Gale from north the next day. 



February 20 (midnight to 1.40 a. in.).— Faint arch, 7.45 to miduight ; a bright arch 15° high in north ; brightest at 9 

 p. in., when straw-yellow bauds and waves of light passed along its upper surface from east to west. The 

 display faded down to ail almost invisible arch at 11.30 p. m. ; then was renewed about midnight. Gale from 

 the north. Rising temperature. 



February 21 (midnight to 2.40 a. in.). — Bright arch from last evening. 



February 25 (8.45 p. m. to midnight.).— Faint arch in the north, developed a tew bars and waves of straw-yellow about 

 midnight ; light north wind. 



October 26 (midnight to 3 a.m.).— End of last eveniug's display; 7.30 to midnight, three arches of nearly equal 

 brightness, the two upper arches with bright straw-yellow waves and pencils of light, brightest at 10 p. m. 



February 27 (midnight to 2 a. m.). — End of last evening's display; 8 p. m. to miduight, two to three arches in the 

 north, the highest about 35° from horizon. The outer palest, and the two inner arcs brightest, giving up 

 and down bright curtains, pencils and waves of straw-yellow ; light most intense at 10 p. m. The number 

 of arches varied as the two inner ones frequently united. Light north wind. Falling temperature. 



February 28 (miduight to 2 a. m.) — End of last evening's display in a single pale arch ; 8 to 11.30 a. m. a low bui 

 bright arch iu the north ; wind light and variable. 



March 2 (5.30 p. m. to midnight). — Pale bands of light exteuding in parallel lines from east to west iu exactly the 

 same arrangement common to the linear bands of clouds, having the same appearance of convergence at the 

 east and west horizon, with the same spaced formation overhead and throughout the lines. Wind light and 

 variable. Linear haze from north to south the next morning. 



March 18 (8 to 10.40 p. m). — Faint arch in north, with pale waves and tongues of light running from east to west. 

 Linear cirrus in the afteruoon, which hid part of aurora iu the evening. Light snow next day, March 19. A 

 break in the clouds was seen, edged with auroral light, in the eveniug; north wind, light; light snow the 

 next day. 



' ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA. 



Thunder showers are said to be quite common on some parts of the Yukou River duriug sum- 

 mer, but in the vicinity of Saint Michael's flashes of lightning are recorded upon but two occa- 

 sions, and in neither case was any thunder heard. Both instances were during warm, calm days 

 in summer when the sky was dotted with cumulus clouds. Probably the low temperature and 

 high relative humidity combine to lessen these displays here. During the coldest weather in 

 winter, nearly always after the snow fog has fallen, the air is iu a highly-charged condition, and 

 at such times a passing stroke upon any loose fur causes the hairs to stand up so fully charged 

 that by presenting the finger to a single hair tip the snap of the spark may be heard 3 feet away, 

 and in the dark a train of sparks follow the hand in stroking any dry fur. 



HALOS, PARHELIA, AND PARSELEN&. 



These phenomena, with the exception of the first named, are far from common here, and it is 

 rare that a well-formed or perfect series of rings and arcs are seen. During the cold months and 



