Observation of Aurora Borealis from Montreal. 261 



Eastward and South, lasted for over twelve hours, and retreated frcm 

 South and East to West. The greatest disturbances centered North of 

 Lake Superior. 



As to the Aurora visible from Montreal, it was probably the most 

 resplendent and extensive seen in the last fifty years . 



The repetition of details, remarks, compass bearings, and other 

 items, as I have them in my notes, would make somevs'hat monotonous 

 reading, so I will confine my abstract to the principal points noticed, 

 which seem to have a bearing on the peculiarities we have previously 

 discussed. First, I had evidence to confirm the view that the body of 

 the Aurora has a steady W. to E. "drift." During the early morning 

 of October 31st I particularly observed patches of light exhibit a steady 

 drift across the stars ; also fields of red colored light and beams 

 appeared in the W. and disappeared in the E., uniformly taking 

 15 minutes to pass from W. to E. The same drift was seen the 

 following night in a less marked degree, the drift being a little slower 

 and the opportunities to see it less frecpuent. 



During the evening of the 31st the weather and clouds were change- 

 able. These cloud changes came from the W., although the then cloud 

 motion was from the N.W. by N. The suggestion is that the cloud 

 changes were influenced by the electric conditions above passing W. to 

 E. The Aurora light was not mixed up with the cloud at this time, 

 but occurred in the intervals of clear weather. 



Again on November 4th, at 20 minutes past five in the morning, I 

 noticed a nebulous band lying from Orion's belt across to the Morning 

 Star. It showed the filling and fading light of the Aurora, and one 

 patch suggested the W. to E. " drift," but the exhibit was not long 

 enough or distant enough to make sure. 



On November 18th there was a bright display in rather peculiar 

 weather, clearing up after rain and sleet. At the end of my notes that 

 night I find this remark : — " Although bright and strong, the changes 

 of light are quite rapid, and no distinct forms are retained ; for this 

 reason I cannot say that there is any proper drift from W. to E." A 

 slow drift, however, was not incompatible with the appearances as 

 observed. 



Cloud motions at variance with the surface winds were noted on 

 October 31st and November 1st and 18th. There were no clouds to 

 mark motion by on the morning of November 4th. 



Of the great display of October 31st, between four and five o'clock 

 in the morning the colors were magnificent. All the colors of the 

 spectrum were to be seen. The reds and orange-lilac and violet shades 

 predominated, but scarlet, a little green, purples, and even light 

 browns were noticed. The reds hung together in rather large masses, 

 as did the violets, lilacs, and whites. The reds all drifted W. to E. , 

 but the whites and blues sometimes succeeded to a climax of red, or 

 crept back in little spurts and rushes from the Eastern edge to meet 

 reds advancing from the W. 



