Notable Display of Northern Lights. 73 



streaks would describe the structure. I saw a somewhat 

 similar appearance once before, and on another occa- 

 sion in early spring three continuous bands, stretch- 

 ing from W. to E., right across the sky. This 

 of course was simply the appearance of the arch 

 viewed at an unusually high angle. The light at 

 this period was simply a quiescent haze. At a later 

 stage it showed a running wave transmission E. and W. 

 (moving both ways), probably corresponding to the rip- 

 pling beams. Still later it exhibited jerky leaps from 

 streak to streak, passing south. From this time it began 

 to sink and spread back to the north, and soon the whole 

 broke into the fuming or flickering state. 



At 2.15 a.m. this great arch had risen high and curved 

 into the east (as is quite often seen), but to the west it 

 had an extension suggesting an elliptical ring form. At 

 this time the remains of the arch were sinking back north. 

 At 2.20 a.m. I was in a position to see the horizon, and 

 the western extension was developing into a second arch. 

 I also became aware at about this time, that the whole 

 body of the first arch was shifting east. The second arch 

 from the west was followed by a third. It could 

 then be plainly seen that the arches were not elliptical 

 rings that might be completed below the horizon, but were 

 great scollops or bows with a slow but steady motion from 

 west to east. In fact, five such arches or bows passed 

 within the hour, and a sixth rose high in the west ; but 

 as this last one came up, the fuming stage interfered, and 

 the whole northern sky was soon in a flicker and con- 

 tinued so until dawn, which was then beginning to creep 

 on apace. 



This procession of connected arches was something 

 quite exceptional as far as my experience goes. I never 

 in the least suspected such a motion, but having seen it 

 I can recall many peculiar appearances, whose explanation 

 would be simplified by such a phenomenon. In fact, I now 



