VOL. XXXVII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 4(53 



such a complaint. Several of them who are married to Polish women, are scarcely 

 able to persuade their wives not to train up their children to this nastiness. Not 

 long since I saw a fellow at church, who had about 70 such locks, hanging 

 down, twisted hard like so many penny cords : so that one might easily have 

 taken his for a Medusa's head; and it is probable, that, in ancient times, some 

 such locks as these might have given rise to the poetical fiction of snakes grow- 

 ing on the head, instead of hair : be that as it may, it is certain that it is a 

 a most odious sight."* 



An unusual Agitation in the Magnetic Needle, observed to last for some time, in 

 a Voyage from Maryland. By Captain Walter Hoxton. N°417, p. 53. 



On the 2d of September, 1724, a little after noon, being in latitude 41* lO' n. 

 and about 28" e. difference of longitude from Cape Henry in Virginia, the 

 weather fair, a moderate gale and smooth sea, Capt. Hoxton's mate, who was 

 on deck, came and told him, that the compass traversed so much that he could 

 not possibly steer by it. On which the captain went up, and after trying it in 

 several parts of the ship, found what the mate said to be true. The captain 

 then had all his compasses brought up, and placed in different parts of the ship, 

 and in places most remote from iron ; and to his great surprise found them all 

 in the same condition : so that they could not steer by any of them. 



He then new touched some of them with a loadstone ; and lest that should 

 affect them, sent it out to the end of the bowsprit ; but he did not perceive 

 that the new touching was of any service : for they all continued traversing 

 very swiftly, for about an hour after the captain came upon deck ; and then on 

 a sudden every one of them stood as well as usual. During the whole time the 

 ship had very little motion : and there was an azimuth compass, and 4 or 5 

 others on board. 



Of an Aurora Borealis seen in New-England, Oct. 22, 1730. By Mr. Isaac 

 Greenwood. N°417, p. 55. 



The aurora borealis has been very frequent in New England of late; but none 

 either for brightness, variety, or duration, so considerable as what occurred the 

 22d of October. This meteor has been observed in New England, at differ- 

 ent times, ever since its first plantation ; but it seems at much longer intervals 



* For further information respecting this extraordinary disease, the medical reader is referred to 

 Rzaczinsky's Nat. Hist, of Poland, to Stabel's Dissertation inserted in the 1st Vol. of Haller's Disp. 

 de Morb. Hist, et Curat, and to the -Hh Vol. of the Manchester Memoirs. See also Coxe's Travels 

 in Poland. 



