430 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



frequent flashes of lightning played, thus furnishing another element of sublimity 

 to the scene. 



In speaking of remarkable auroras, I cannot omit mentioning the one of 

 September 24th, 1870. Many who read this will doubtless remember the event, 

 though the precise date of its occurrence may have escaped their recollection. 

 The characteristics of this most wonderful of auroras, were the large area over 

 which it was visible, the extent of the visible heavens over which it spread ; the 

 variety and brilliancy of its colors, and the trembling waves of lambent light 

 which ascended spirally toward a vortex a few degrees southwest of the zenith. 

 The scene presented surpassed the power of description. I remember how the 

 little patches of red light would vanish and reappear, almost before one had time 

 to think; while others, if they disappeared, would not return again, or if they 

 did, would be somewhat modified in color, in form, or in position. This aurora 

 remained brilliant until about eleven o'clock, at which time it began to disappear, 

 first along its southern border, which was but a few degrees above the horizon ; 

 after a short time it receded past the zenith, and at midnight there was nothing 

 unusual in its appearance — being a simple arch of white light near the northern 

 horizon, with perhaps a few inconspicuous streamers of the same color. 



I do not know whether others have observed that the highest point of the 

 arch of an aurora does not appear due north, but varies with magnetic declina- 

 tion. In this locality the aurora is brighest somewhat to the east of north. I 

 find also that the vortex or corona of the last mentioned aurora was just about as 

 many degrees to the south of the zenith, as the north magnetic pole of. the earth 

 is distant from the axial pole. 



The mysterious band of light seen at Albany was probably, what I have 

 stated, a mere auroral arch, but, appearing as it did, in the zenith, more nearly 

 resembled a band than an arch. The same, viewed from a lower latitude would 

 have presented an arch-like appearance, similar to those often seen by us in the 

 distant north ; and these latter would present to an observer beneath them, the 

 same band-like appearance seen at Albany. 



The observatory in the neighborhood of Nice, which is being erected at the 

 expense of M. Bischoffsheim, is rapidly approaching completion. The great 

 equatorial telescope is to be one of the largest in the world — perhaps the lar gest 

 — as it will have an object-glass three feet in diameter and a focal length of up- 

 ward of fifty feet. The construction of this monster telescope has been intrusted 

 to MM. Paul and Prosper Henry, of Paris, and the total cost of the observatory 

 will be more than $400,000 in American money. 



