390 Miscellanies. 



could be determined without the aid of instruments ; but this comes 

 so near to the pole of the dipping needle and to the magnetic me- 

 ridian, that we need not hesitate to conclude that, agreeably to what 

 has been observed of similar phenomena before, the columns arran- 

 ged themselves exactly in obedience to the laws of terrestrial mag- 

 netism. 



"Soon after 11 o'clock, commenced a striking display of those 

 undulatory flashes, denominated in the northern regions Merry Dan- 

 cers. They consist of thin waves or sheets of light, coursing each 

 other with immense speed. Those undulations which play upon 

 the surface of a field of rye, when gently agitated by the wind, may 

 give to the reader a faint idea of these auroral waves. One of these 

 crimson columns, the most dense and beautiful of all, as it ascended 

 towards the common focus, (the vanishing point of perspective for 

 parallel lines,) crossed the planet Jupiter, then at an altitude of 36 

 degrees. The appearance was peculiarly interesting, as the planet 

 shone through the crimson cloud, with its splendor apparently aug- 

 mented rather than diminished. 



" A few shooting stars were seen at intervals, some of which 

 were above the ordinary magnitude and brightness. One that came 

 from between the feet of the Great Bear, at eight minutes after one 

 o'clock, and fell apparently near to the earth, exhibited a very white 

 and dazzling light, and as it exploded, scattered shining fragments, 

 very much after the manner of a sky rocket. 



" As early as 7 o'clock, the magnetic needle began to show unusu- 

 al agitation, and it has been since carefully observed by Mr. Loomis. 

 Near 11 o'clock, when, the streamers were rising, and the corona 

 forming, the disturbance of the needle was very remarkable, causing 

 a motion of 1° 5' in five minutes' time. This disturbance continued 

 until 10 o'clock this morning, the needle having traversed an entire 

 range of one degree and 40 minutes, while its ordinary diurnal de- 

 flection is not more than 4 minutes. 



" The thermometer at 1 1 o'clock was at 33° ; it shortly fell to 

 31, and remained nearly at this point during the remainder of the 

 night, a degree of cold considerably below that of the few preceding 

 nights. The ground this morning was covered with a copious white 

 frost, indicating an unusual deposition of watery vapor. 



" At about 3 o'clock, the sky grew cloudy, and the moon rising 

 shortly afterwards, farther observations were prevented ; but the con- 

 tinued disturbance of the magnetic needle would induce the belief, 



