NA TURE 



[July J4, 1904 



frequency of the aurora at London. In the case of 

 auroras observed in Edinburgh, north-east Scotland 

 and in different regions in Scandinavia, the months 

 in which the greatest frequency is recorded are 

 September and October (perhaps ■ more generally 

 October) and March and April (perhaps more generally 

 March). 



The accompanying figure (Fig. i) shows in a 

 graphical form the annual variation of these magnetic 

 and auroral frequencies, indicating their epochs of 

 •maxima and minima. Above them are the curves 

 shovt-ing (at the top) the epochs when the earth's poles 

 are turned towards the sun (the origin of our seasonal 

 changes) and (below) when the sun's poles are turned 

 towards the earth. 



The coincidence in time between the epochs of the 

 maxima of the frequency of magnetic disturbances 



the less disturbed solar polar regions were in action 

 should be somewhat reduced. 



It was shown in the paper that this is actually the 

 case, the frequency of the magnetic disturbances at the 

 equinoxes being in greater excess over the solstitial 

 frequency the greater the degree of disturbance. 



There is thus reason to believe that the orientation 

 of the solar poles with regard to the earth is the 

 origin of these magnetic and electric annual changes. 

 William J. S. Lockyer. 



THE ORNITHOLOGIST IN LAPLAND.' 

 "D USSIAN Lapland, although it has its charms 

 ■•■^ during the brief summer, cannot be described as 

 a desirable country, either for residents or tourists, 

 since, except in a few sheltered spots, it produces little 



iht lli.^, ..I UL,,= i.,n Lapland." 



and aurora, and those of the greatest inclination 

 towards the earth of the north and south solar polar 

 regions can thus be seen at a glance. 



The inquiry was pursued further to find out whether 

 this yearly inequality of these terrestrial magnetic 

 -disturbances was influenced differently according as 

 the sun's polar regions were, for several groups of 

 years, in an undisturbed or disturbed condition. 



It was expected that the oscillation of more disturbed 

 solar polar regions towards and away from the earth 

 would tend to increase the difference between the 

 frequency of magnetic disturbance at the equinoxes 

 and solstices, while this difference for those years when 

 NO. 181 I, VOL. 70] 



fodder save reindeer moss, while the fishing and shoot- 

 ing are but indifferent, and in late seasons the ground 

 may remain covered with snow until well into June. 

 Moreover, almost as soon as summer has set in, 

 mosquitoes of a particularly vicious kind make their 

 appearance in swarms, and render life well-nigh in- 

 tolerable in the marshy districts which form the greater 

 part of the country. When to these drawbacks are 

 added the difficulties of travel, both by sea and land, 

 there is little wonder that northern Lapland attracts 



By H. J. 



