TUKE SKY PHENOMENA ii 



these streamers is an illusion of perspective. The lower ends of 

 the streaks of light are much nearer than the upper ends, or in 

 the case of the horizontal rays described, the parts overhead are 

 nearer than the parts at the distant horizon, so in common with 

 all parallel or nearly parallel lines they appear to recede to a 

 vanishing point, in the one case toward, in the other opposite the 

 sun. This perspective illusion appears to be als6 the cause of 

 the fan -like distribution of clouds sometimes seen near the horizon. 

 Really the clouds are ranged in nearly parallel formation, blown 

 thus by steady wind- currents, but to the eye they appear di- 

 verging. 



The Aurora Borealis 

 But it is in the advantageous position for viewing the Aurora 

 Borealis that our North Country excels. To one accustomed 

 to the infrequent and meager displays of more southern latitudes 

 the first sight of a real northern auroral outburst is an awe- 

 inspiring spectacle. The lights cease to be mere "Northern" 

 lights, for east, and west, and south are full of them. Let me 

 offer here my apologies to any real Northerner who may be present 

 and who m.ay think it presum.ptious of a mere 47 degree man to 

 attempt to describe these wonderful manifestations. I can 

 only trust that he may add to my account. It is a matter of 

 regret that the psalmists and poets of old who felt the inspiration 

 of the starry heavens could not also have dwelt under the Northern 

 lights to have described them fitly. Service, poet of the Yukon, 

 has attempted to do so in his Ballad of the Northern Lights: 



And the skies of night were alive with light with a throbbing 

 thrilling flame. 



Amber and rose and violet, opal and gold it came. 



It swept the sky like a giant scythe, it quivered back to a 

 wedge ; 



Argently bright it cleft the night with a wavy golden edge. 



Pennants of silver waved and streamed, lazy banners unfurled; 



Sudden splendors of sabres gleamed, lightning javelins were 

 hurled. 



There in our awe we crouched and saw with our wild up- 

 lifted eyes 



Charge and retire the hosts of fire, in the battlefield of the 

 skies." 



