396 Miscellanies. 



16. Aurora Borealis of February 18, 1837. — A very beautiful 

 display of Northern Lights was witnessed on the night of the 18th 

 February last, at London, Belfast, Paris, Gottingen and many other 

 places in Europe. At Gottingen it was visible from 7 P. M till 

 2 A. M of 19th inst., and according to the observations of Gold- 

 scHMiDT,* produced a very sensible disturbance of the magnetic 

 needle. The range of the needle's variation was about 20', and its 

 movements rapid. 



It is an interesting fact, that on this same evening the Aurora Bo- 

 realis was visible at this place, (distant 83° of long, from Gottingen,) 

 and that its effect on the magnetic needle here was very manifest. 

 Soon after sunset, the east to the altitude of 40° was tinged with a 

 faint purple color, and from the end of twilight until about 9 P. M, 

 a broad indefinitely-bounded zone of a dim red, spanned the heavens 

 from east to west. It was however too indistinct to attract much 

 attention. At 9A. 15m. P. M. mean time, a region about 10° wide 

 and 15° high, (having its center at N. 30° E.,) was lighted up with 

 a beautiful rose-red. Without any perceptible change of position, 

 this illuminated region was visible till IIP. M., (when the observa- 

 tions ceased,) often varying in intensity from a deep rose-red to a 

 faint and scarcely appreciable stain. During this time, no auroral 

 light was seen in any other part of the sky. The needles of a Va- 

 riation Transit and of a theodolite were first inspected at 9/t. 20jn. 

 and the north end of each was then found about 15' east of its usual 

 position at this hour. At 9A. 22m. the variation reached its maxi- 

 mum, viz. 35' east of the mean.f From this period until IIP. M., 

 the needle moved back and forth, at times with considerable rapid- 

 ity, and almost wholly on the eastern side of its mean direction. 

 The times above given are uncertain within three minutes. 



New Haven, Conn. E. C. H. 



17. The Production of Galvanic Music. -^The following experi- 

 ment was communicated by Dr. C. G. Page of Salem, Mass., in a 

 recent letter to the editor. From the well known action upon masses 

 of matter, when one of those masses is a magnet, and the other 

 some conducting substance, transmitting a galvanic current, it might 

 have been safely inferred (a priori,) that if this action were prevented 

 by having both bodies permanently fixed, a molecular derangement 

 would occur, whenever such a reciprocal action should be estab' 



* L'hislitut, April 5, 1837. t N. 5° 55' W, 



