186 



17th, 16.30 The brilliant curtain noted in the last entry faded, 

 and now another nebulous band seen further to 

 the E. ; this brightened at intervals, and gradually 

 sank down to the E. horizon. 



17.15 A fainter display still proceeded along the N.E. to 

 S.E. horizon. Streamers ascending from the 

 horizon, especially about the summit of Mount 

 Erebus, Avliere they are actually higher than else- 

 where, and thus appearing to have some con- 

 nection with the mountain. Streamers are also 

 specially developed above two small cloud patches, 

 one to the N.E. and the other 15° up in the due 

 N. ; in these cases the streamers appeared to spring 

 upwards from the clouds. 



17. 30 Aurora still on N. horizon. 



18.45 A bright curtain appeared 10° above the N. horizon, 

 extending through a horizontal arc of 45°. Por- 

 tion of a further curtain showed over a cloud on 

 the horizon; trend, W.N.W. 



19.001 Auroral display to the N., between E.N.E. and 



19.25 J N.N.W., in which some brilliant circular 

 (enclosed) curtains composed of delicate filaments 

 were exhibited. In the case of one of these the 

 ring opened out after breaking at one side until 

 it became almost a straight line; the excitation 

 travelled rapidly to the S. At this time streamers 

 rose from the summit of Mount Erebus. 



19.25) A remarkably brilliant and fine auroral circle spread 



19.45 { around the N.N.E. sky. It came from a cloud- 

 bank on the N.N.W. horizon (W. of Cape Bird), 

 passing nearest the zenith at a point 45° up to 

 the N.N.E. , and disappearing over the N. flank 

 of Mount Erebus in the N.N.E. ; the outline thus 

 formed was part of a .huge circular arc convex to 

 the S.S.W. ; it showed a coloured selvage below; 

 slow body-travel to the N. by E. horizon; the 

 excitation travelled rapidly, rushing wildly from 

 end to end and giving the appearance of wave- 

 motions from either end. Concurrently the upper 

 portions of another curtain appeared above the 

 cloud-bank on the N. horizon. 



21.00 A faint auroral glow over cloud-bank in the N. The 

 moon was high up and brilliant to the S. of Mount 

 Erebus, and shining on a dense cloud-bank along 

 the N. highlands of Ross Island, imparted the 

 appearance of a luminous upper border ; this latter, 

 due to reflected moonlight, was obviously different 

 to the usual type listed in these notes. 



21.45 A well-formed curtain arc again appeared in approxi- 

 mately the same position as that just faded. The 

 shape altered, and at one time there were as 

 many as three parallel straight curtains trending 

 more or less E. and W. ; these were, however, only 

 of short duration. 



22.15 A strong auroral display in the N. and N.N.W. in 

 the form of curtains and nebulous patches. 

 Shortly, the display developed into a long curtain 

 extending from the N., passing 45° up to the W. 



