169 



53rd, 23.00 The trend of the curtain wa> now X. and S. ; the 

 turning movement had also possibly been accom- 

 panied by a slight drift to the X., though this is 

 not certain. 



23.30 Xo aurora. 

 24th, 2.00 Five or six faint streamers rising to a height of about 

 3° in the X.X.W., and faint streamers in the S. 

 rising to a height of about 40° above a low bank 

 of strato-cumulus clouds. 

 4.00 Three to four streamers rising from the N.N.W. 

 horizon to a, height of about 30°. Also faint 

 streamers rising in the S.E. above a low bank of 

 strato-cumulus clouds to a height of about 40°. 

 6.00 Streamers rising in the X. on cither side of the moon. 

 Xo sign of the aurora between X. and X.E., but to 

 the S. of Mount Erebus a bright auroral glow 

 appeared above 1 strato-cnmulus clouds at a height 

 of about 50°. No distinct nebulae or streamers 

 seen. 

 9.00 A nebulous patch bow-shaped 00° above the horizon 

 tfi the X. 



10.15 Faint trace only of arc appeared to trend to the 

 N.W. from near the zenith. The more delicate 

 effects would now be invisible on account of a 

 slight fog and daylight in the X. 



13.4-5 Very hazy, so that only the largest stars were visible 

 overhead. Aurora would have to be very brilliant 

 to be seen. Xn aurora noted. 



16.00 T»he haze now clearing away, but no aurora noted. 



19.30 A luminous horizon on the highlands of the X. of 

 Ross Island. 



20.00 The glow in this direction became stronger. 



20.10 An extensive -nebulous luminescence developed around 

 and behind a black cloud over the N. highlands 

 of Ross Island. This descended slowly as a 

 luminous cloud, till finally its lower part appeared 

 between us and the horizon. It therefore descended 

 at least to 5,000 ft. above sea level (the horizon 

 line to the X.E. is about 5,000 feet above sea 

 level). The luminous cloud rose again shortly and 

 again descended. 



20.50 The luminous cloud still persisted below the horizon 

 level, though the higher portioms of Mount Erebus 

 were plainly visible standing above, and u.uen- 

 veloped by, the luminous fog. In respect of the 

 phenomenal! appearing below the horizon level; 

 the luminous area contracted slowly to the X'., 

 where it still remained bright, though the southerly 

 portions had faded till they were almost non- 

 luminous. Just above the horizon line a strong 

 display now appeared. A brilliant luminescence 

 travelled backwards at a rate suggestive of about 

 30 or -10 miles per minute. Streamers descended 

 locally over the direction of Cape Bird for a period 

 of several minutes. 

 '.20.55 A luminous haze left, enveloping an area above and 

 below the horizon along tin 1 northern highlands of 

 Hos* Island. 



