EXPEDITION TO POINT BARKOW, ALASKA. 379 



March 31, 1882, 4 a. m. to 8.15 . m. Began later than usual ami was very faint. It was 

 mostly confined to a single ray rising from the SE. towards the, zenith and occasionally extended 

 through to the NW. Sometimes none were to be seen for a short time, but the brightness of the 

 moon may have hidden it. It was last seen after 8.15 a. in. (ii.43 a. in. local), but the needles which 

 had been steady during the greater part of the night became disturbed and rvad very irregularly 

 lor several hours afterwards. 



.-// .">, 1881', 2 <i. in. to 7 a. m. Very pale and irregular shaped. Appeared only occasionally 

 and mostly near the zenith. The cloudiness of the sky prevented it being observed. The moon 

 being about the full and the, clouds somewhat striated it was often difficult to say which was cloud 

 and which aurora. Magnets somewhat disturbed. 



April 4, 1SS2, 4 a. m. to G a. m. First seen at 4 a. m. The brightness of twilight and the moon 

 being too great to permit of its being observed much sooner. -First appeared as a faint narrow- 

 arch running from from N. to SE. with an elevation of about 20. A few rays appeared and the 

 arch assumed a curtain form, which was soon succeeded by the usual hazy condition of the sl;y. 

 At 5 a. m. a similar curtain appeared for a sliprt time, extending from N\V. to SE. and elevated 

 about .'!(.) ; a hove the horizon. At a. m. a faint corona was formed with long, slender, and very 

 faint rays converging towards zenith, but although displaying considerable motion no variety of 

 colors was noticeable. It was only of few minutes' duration and was again succeeded by the hazy 

 condition of the sky. Clouds soon afterwards covered (he -sky so tlutt nothing further could be 

 seen. The needles were considerably agitated. 



April .">, 1882, to . Beginning or end not known in consequence of the cloudiness, 



but at ~) a. m. (11.43 p. m. local of the 4th) the clouds around the zenith were all rendered 

 luminous by transmitted light, the aurora behind them being apparently very bright. The magnets 

 were very much disturbed, the disturbance continuing until the afternoon. 



April (3, 1882, 4 <i. >. to . The brightness of twilight prevents the beginning of displays 



being correctly ascertained, and when this one was u'rst observed it was rather brilliant in the SE. 

 at an elevation of 4(1. While in this position, rays and streamers were rapidly developed which 

 shot up towards the zenith while individually possessing a rapid swirling motion. An arched 

 form combined with that of the curtain was then assumed, which extended across towards the 

 N\V., rising at the same time towards the zenith, the motion of translation being from W. to NE. 

 After reaching the active condition it ceased and was succeeded by the usual hazy appearance of 

 the sky. .During the burst of activity the base of the whirling rays was often tinged with pink 

 and ruse; the prevailing color was yellow. During this time the uiaguets were much disturbed, 

 the vertical intensity on eastern declination being largely increased and the horizontal force 

 decreased. Afterwards but little was seen, but as the cloudiness increased very rapidly it was 

 impossible to say if any further bursts occurred. The needles were occasionally disturbed until 

 .several hours after sunrise. 



April 7, 1882, to . The 7th was cloudy, but the- magnetic disturbance was large. 



Ai>ril S, 1882, 4 a. >/j. to 1 a. m. Began as a narrow band in the SE. stretching toward the N., 

 which after a few minutes' quiescence became active and displayed considerable motion and a few 

 traces of color, but very soon broke up into hazy patches. At 5 a. in. a narrow pale yellow arch 

 extended across from XW. to SE. at an altitude of about 35 above the S. horizon. After remain- 

 ing stationary for a short time it rose towards the zenith. Pale slender rays shot up from its 

 eastern end, and sever:',! small patches of yellow light in a condition of rapid motion appeared 

 along it. There was a slight approach to the coronal form, but all faded very rapidly, and at 5.20 

 no trace of it remained ; no more appeared until about 7 a. in., when a faint ray appeared in theX. 

 just outside of the line of twilight. There was a strong easterly deflection of the declination 

 needle and an increase in the vertical intensity and decrease in horizontal force. 



April !), 1882, 1 n. m. to . A sudden burst of auroral activity a few minutes after 4 a. m. 



occurred, but only lasted about ten minutes. When first seen it was in and around the zenith, 

 which was tilled with whirling vibrating rays. Flashes of green and rose appeared, but yellow, as 

 usual, was the prevailing color. The, magnets we;-;; considerably disturbed, the vertical intensity 

 increasing, the horizontal force decreasing, and the dellection Kj.netimes 10. and sometimes W. 

 The night became cloudy and no more was seen. 



