ME9 REV. JAMES FAIIQUHARSON ON THE AURORA BOREALIS. 



it is seen in winter, it is either immediately before, or during the continuance 

 of) a westerly fresh wind. ,i, 



I would state, in conclusion, that I have here seen it much more frequently 

 in the form of a light near the northern horizon, than in any other form : and, 

 with the views I have now detailed, entertain, therefore, a suspicion that there 

 is some line, near the shore of the Moray Firth, about thirty miles north, or 

 between this place and that, where it oftener forms a zenith arch than here. 

 This might be worthy of inquiry ; and should it be found to be so, it might be 

 further worthy of inquiry, — whether the circumstance, considering the attend- 

 ance of the meteor on westerly gales, may not be dependent on the facility 

 with which these gales can traverse into the Moray Firth, through the deep 

 valley of the Caledonian canal. By such inquiries we might ascertain other 

 relations which it may bear to the various thermometrical and hygrometrical 

 states of the atmosphere. to 



^iUji -rt Jt^tff *«!^K()Jir James Farquharson. ^i 



AJford, Aberdeenshireiioii aiiJ is 89iJini9 ) 

 Dec. 23rd, 1828. 



mth:'. ? Postscript. 



' Since the foregoing pages were written, I had, last evening (December 28th) 

 an opportunity, in company with another person, for observing an aurora bo- 

 realis, which, from several circumstances attending it, may be worthy of de- 

 scription. It was first observed about half past 6 o'clock, in the form of a very 

 complete arch of pale silvery light, nearly imiform in appearance from end to 

 end, the vertex of which was 25° or 30° above the N. horizon at the magnetic 

 meridian ; its own breadth 10° or 12° ; the light nearly steady, and gradually 

 shaded off at both edges. At the same time a much brighter confined light 

 appeared, close to the horizon, at the N. point of the magnetic meridian. The 

 arch of pale light moved southward very slowly ; and after rising 6° or 8° 

 higher, became resolved into pale flitting streamers, which separated into 

 groups, and soon faded, with the exception of those at the E. end, which con- 

 tinued a considerable time, and approached near the prime vertical to the 

 magnetic meridian before becoming extinct. In the mean time, the light at 



