370 EXPEDITION TO POINT ISAUUOvV, ALASKA. 



January 4, 1S82, 2 a. 111. to t) a. m. Faint arch low down in (lie Nlv, scarcely distinguishable 

 from a long band of cirrus cloud which after languishing tor a short time disappeared and did not 

 reappear until 7 a. in., when a few fugitive bauds appeared in the NE. which soon developed into 

 a well marked curtain (brightness 3). There was but little vibratory motion and not much change 

 in color. Declinometer needle deflected slightly to the E. and vertical intensity increased, accom- 

 panied by a slight decrease in horizontal intensity. After this there was very little visible except 

 an occasional patch, or ray, lasting generally only a few minutes. All disappeared at 9 a. in. 



January 5, 1882, 1 a, in. to 8.30 a. m. Occasional rays, curtains and patches of light from 1 a. 

 m. to 7 a. m., uone very bright and all of brief duration. There was very little apparent motion. 

 The vaiious curtains and patches did not usually have a regular forward motion in auy direction. 

 They appeared to burst out of the sky, fluctuate for a few minutes, and then disappear. At 7 a. 

 m., however, an irregular curtained arch appeared ascending from Taurus to Bootes with its center 

 slightly N. of zenith. It exhibited momentary bursts of vibratory motion and was brighter at its 

 southeastern end. Its brightness was about 2. The magnets were greatly disturbed, the horizon- 

 tal force decreased, the vertical intensity greatly increased, and the declination to E. also increased ; 

 ended about 8.30 a. m. 



January 5 and G, 1882, 11 p. m. to 3.30 p. m. Appeared as a narrow pale arch running from X. 

 to SE., with its center in Gemini. It lasted only a short time, and exhibited no apparent motion. 

 It reappeared at rather lengthened intervals, mostly low down in the N. and NE., and never very 

 bright or high, and was last observed at 3.30 p. m. 



January (J and 7, 1882, 11 p. m. to 7.30 ^j. m. Luminous haze all round the horizon, with a dark 

 circle of about 5 width, corresponding to the well-known dark segment below it. From this haze 

 numerous rays, so faint and ethereal as to be almost imperceptible, shot up towards the zenith. In 

 fact, it appeared as if a series of pulsations or ethereal quiverings, which almost eluded the grasp 

 of vision, passed over the sky in a kind of rythmic unison ; the converging point of motion being 

 the zenith. This phenomenon continued until the light of the moon, which soon rose, rendered it 

 invisible. Occasional curtains and arches, mostly pale and irregular in shape, followed. At 7 a. 

 m. a very pale arch ran from NW. to SE., through Taurus and Bootes, and after remaining a short 

 time it slowly faded away. 



January S, 1882, 1 a. m. to 10.40 a. m. Appeared first in the usual form of a faint still arch, 

 extending from N. to SE., and possessing a slow upward motion. At 2 a. m. it had risen to the 

 zenith, when it divided into six or seven narrow bauds, brightness about 2, with considerable 

 vibratory motion, but no streamers. After passing the zenith it became diffused and soou disap- 

 peared. Bands and curtains, patches of light, and detached rays succeeded in quick succession, 

 appearing in various parts of the sky, but none were very brilliant or of long duration. There 

 were intervals of quiescence when scarcely any light, other than the usual luminous haze, was vis- 

 ible, and this was generally by an interval of display more or less brilliant until about 10 a. m., 

 when there was quite a brilliant .one. Several rays appeared in the NW. and the SE., which prop- 

 agated themselves toward the zenith where they met, forming, an irregular but brilliant arch, 

 exhibiting an extremely rapid motion. Numerous short rays shot tip and whirled to and fro, 

 beautiful tints of pink, yellow, and green flashed out, convoluted curtains appeared and rolled and 

 unrolled themselves, swaying to and fro, as if hung out by invisible hands, but all changing so 

 rapidly that it was very hard to point their place. The brightness at this time was fully 4. At 

 10.30 a. m. it began to fade; in about twenty minutes all had disappeared. 



January 8 and 9, 1882, 10 p. m. to 10 a. m, Occasional rays appeared in the SE., just above 

 the head of Orion, and soon afterwards a pale arch was formed extending from NW. to SE., which 

 grew brighter as it rose, and at 12 m. formed quite a brilliant arch, with its center in Ursa Major, 

 and after remaining for a time in zenith slowly faded away towards the S. Occasional arches, 

 bands, and llorculent patches followed, but presenting no remarkable features until about 7 a. m., 

 when there was a great increase in brilliancy, lasting for about half an hour. A series of great 

 semi-circular whorls spread over the sky in a condition of interne agitation. There was one in 

 Orion, one in Bootes, one in Andromeda, and a very brilliant one curved through Ursa Major. 

 The color was bright sulphur yellow, with some tints of pink and rose. The magnets were con- 

 siderably disturbed. Horizontal force decreased, and vertical intensity greatly increased, while 



