LIGHT SCIENCE 

 FOE LEISUEE HOUES. 



STRANGE DISCOVERIES RESPECTING 

 THE AURORA. 



THE brilliant streamers of coloured light which wave 

 at certain seasons over the heavens have long since 

 been recognised as among the most singular and im- 

 pressive of all the phenomena which the skies present 

 to our view. There is something surpassingly beautiful 

 in the appearance of the true ' auroral curtain.' Fringed 

 with coloured streamers, it waves to and fro as though 

 shaken by some unseen hand. Then from end to end 

 there pass a succession of undulations, the folds of 

 the curtain interwrapping and forming a series of 

 graceful curves. Suddenly, and as by magic, there 

 succeeds a perfect stillness, as though the unseen 

 power which had been displaying the varied beauties 

 of the auroral curtain were resting for a moment. But 

 even while the motion of the curtain is stilled we see 

 its light mysteriously waxing and waning. Then, as 

 we gaze, fresh waves of disturbance traverse the magic 



