460 PHILOSOPHICAL TBANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1740. 



At the upper part, a considerable tract of the heavens was enlightened with a 

 very vivid red light, which was interrupted by several streaks or columns of a 

 bright yellowish light. These streamings shot up vertically, and parallel to each 

 other, and the narrow cloud seemed to serve them for a basis. Under the 

 cloud there issued forth two tails of a whitish light, hanging downward on a 

 basis of a weak red, and it seemed as if they kindled and darted the light down- 

 ward. There was likewise seen a white streak, which passed across these two 

 tails, and extended from one end of the phenomenon to the other, in a posi- 

 tion almost parallel to the abovementioned cloud. 



At 9*" 4"", there now remained but a little reddish light at the north pole; all 

 the rest was collected near the zenith, not extending lower than the star a. of 

 Ursa major. In the south, where the sky was clear, there were seen some of 

 those meteors, called falling stars. 



Several persons have positively asserted, that, in the evening of the l6th day, 

 they perceived a certain stench in the air, like that which is sometimes occa- 

 sioned by a fog. The same has been taken notice of at other times, when such 

 phaenomena have appeared. 



There was a very thin fog in the air not only on the l6th day, but also on 

 the preceding and ensuing days. The mornings of the J 7th and 18th, before 

 and a little after sun-rise, the air appeared of an uncommon fiery colour. The 

 evening of the 17th, the crepusculum was of an extraordinary height. Between 

 the north and west, there was seen a very thin red vapour, which lasted almost 

 till night. 



4. Observed at Rome. By S. de Revillas, Math. Prof, and F. R. S. p. 6oi. 

 — These observations are similar to the foregoing. 



5. By Mr. James Short, at Edinburgh, p. 6o5. — We were surprised, on 

 looking out at the windows, about 6 o'clock, to find the sky, as it were, all in 

 a flame; but on further inquiry, it was nothing but the aurora borealis, com- 

 posed of red light. There was an arch of this red light reached from the west, 

 over the zenith, to the east; the northern border of this light was tinged with 

 somewhat of a blue colour. This aurora did not first form in the north, and 

 after forming an arch there, rise towards the zenith, as they commonly use to 

 do; neither did the light shiver, and by sudden jerks spread itself over the hemi- 

 sphere, as is common ; but gradually and gently stole along the face of the sky, 

 till it had covered the whole hemisphere ; which alarmed the vulgar, and was 

 indeed a strange sight. A great circle of this light came from the west to the 

 zenith, which seemed to be the magazine whence all the rest were supplied. 

 It is but about a year since Mr. S. first observed this red light in the aurora bo- 

 realis, and only then in very small quantities. 



