368 EXPEDITION TO POINT BAIUIOW, ALASKA. 



slowly changed from time to time; those first appearing soon fading away and giving placr to 

 others of similar character until about 11.30, when they assumed the form of a regular arch, quiet 

 and narrow, and extending from X. to SE. with an altitude of about 20 degree.-, li rose very 

 slowly and showed varying degrees of brightness, but was generally pale. At .'! ;;. in. of the 22d 

 its center was in Ursa Major, and between l> and 7 a.m. its center was in Auriga. After it passed 

 the zenith it imperceptibly faded into a diffused luminous haze, which covered the greater part of 

 the visible sky. Sections of half-formed curtains and arches appeared, from time to time, and 

 afterwards a very bright one formed in theE. about 11 a. m. Traces of it were still visible at 1 p. ID. 



Itn-t'inliT 22 <oid 2.'5, 1SS1, 1.1.30 j>. m. to 2.13 p. M. Faintly luminous haze appeared iu the NE. 

 at 11.30, but soon afterward disappeared in the haze which covered the sky. About 2 a. in., 23d, 

 it reappeared in nearly the same position and apparently shining through the Laze. After this it 

 became brighter, showed more motion, and developed more rapidly. Faint arch succeeded faint 

 arch, and bands and curtains nourished and faded too numerously and too irregularly to particu- 

 larize, until about -J a. m., when an imperfect corona was formed with its culminating point almost 

 in the zenith. There was considerable variety of colors, yellow, pink, red, and white, the total 

 light emitted being probably equal to that of a full moon, but as the emitting surface covered the 

 greater part of the sky the light was much more diffused than moonlight. This period of intensity 

 continued until about 5.30 a. m., when the bands and arches gave place to a diffused light spread- 

 ing over the greater part of the visible sky. There was great magnetic disturbance during the 

 period of maximum displays. The unifllar magnet was deflected to the E. so as to necessitate the 

 movement of the azimuth circle through 4 10', while the dip of the weighted dip needle increased 

 2 15'. Last traces were observed at 2.15 p. m. 



December 23 and 24, 1881, 8.302?. m. to 2.15^. in. At 8.30 p. m. a faint pinkish ray rose from, 

 the !SE. and extended upwards almost to the zenith, but lasted only a few minutes. Luminous 

 patches soon afterward appeared in the NE., and a narrow quiet arch soon was formed, which 

 remained quiescent for about half au hour, when it began to move rapidly, shooting out rays as it 

 approached the zenith, forming a pale but imperfect corona with its culminating point in Cassiopeia. 

 This is the first occasion of such activity at such an early hour. It was of short duration, how- 

 ever, and was succeeded by the usual diffused light or luminous haze occasionally interspersed by 

 bands and patches of deeper light. Several bauds developed about 1 a. in. of the 24th, and after- 

 wards became uumerous, forming generally low down in the XE. and moving slowly toward the 

 zenith, where they generally became broader and more diffused, sometimes dividing into two or 

 more. The brightness seldom exceeded 2, but the haziness of the sky dimmed it to a great extent. 

 At 7 a. in. all that remained was a rather bright light low down in the SW. behind the clouds, 

 with patches of luminous haze in various parts of the sky. Although the phenomenon at this 

 time showed no appearance of intense activity, yet the magnets were greatly disturbed. The hori- 

 zontal force was greatly increased, as was also the vertical, while, the needle of the declinometer 

 was deflected first to the W. and then to the E., the former deflection taking the magnet out of the 

 field of the telescope. Very little brilliancy was exhibited until about 1 p. m., when there was 

 quite a burst of light and intensity. Rays, bands, convoluted curtains, and flashes of quivering 

 light appeared over the greater part of the sky. Numerous rays shot; up from all sides toward the 

 zenith, but no proper corona -was formed. [Magnetic disturbance lasted all through the display, 

 which finally disappeared about 2.15 p. in. 



December 24 und 25, 1881, 9 p. m. to 10 n. in. Patches of light low down in the NE., which 

 broadened out into luminous haze, that extended slowly upward toward the zenith, shooting up 

 occasional rays, which about 1 a. m. developed into a faint arch near the zenith. Other arches 

 increasing in brightness succeeded this in quick succession until about 3 a. in., when the light was 

 spread all over the sky, sometimes as curtains and bands and broken segments of arches, some- 

 times as large flocculeut masses looking like cumulous clouds illuminated by transmitted light. 

 There were periods of quiescence alternating with brief displays of activity. No colors, however, 

 were observed beyond the usual white and yellow, but these at times were very intense, reaching 

 the maximum of brightness. Alter lasting for about an hour the display gradually subsided, and 

 until 7 a. m. only occasional patches and bands appeared irregularly in various parts of the sky, 

 but being mostly brightest in fhcAV. From 7 to S a.m. the brilliance rapidly increased. Curtains, 



