344 Prof. E. Loomis on the Aurora of 1859. 
the beams shot up from all sides to the zenith, forming a beautiful 
corona which lasted 5 or 8 minutes, sometimes putting on t 
appearance of conflicting waves. Nearly the whole sky was of a 
ink, and some portions of a dark red color. It faded gradually 
away, first disappearing in the south, and at 10 P. M. only a bright 
and across the northern portion without a dark segment. About 
105 30™ occasional rays shot up to the zenith. At 11) it was 
very light, so that objects could be seen at a distance. The au- 
rora continued with varied colors and. brightness until the dawn 
of the 29th. 
16. Observations at Pekin, Illinois, (lat. 40° 36’, long. 89° 45’), by J. H. 
Riser. 
Ang. 28, 8 20™ p. M. a white band running from N. W. to E. 
with two columns shooting up, one by the north star the other 
through Ursa Major. 8 30™ it is passing westward and a high 
column is passing about 5° east of the north star, and about 10° 
above it. At 8'40™ two columns passing nearly to zenith 
on the east side of north star. At 8 46™ the column by the 
north star increased in width, the top bent over forming a semi- 
circle to west. Color white in north, changing to a rose at its 
upper edge, and a red in the east. At 8» 55™ arches forming; 
the lowest about 10° above the horizon, and of a pale color. The 
second about 30° above the horizon, and of a pale orange 
color. Streamers running from the lower arch through it and 
about 30° above it. The color was most intense in the east. At 
8: 57™ both arches better defined. The streamers passing from 
the lower through the upper to a point about 10° west of the 
zenith, At 9 P.M. less brilliant and ceased observing. 
17, Observations at Urbana, Ohio, (lat. 40° 6, long. 83° 43'), by Prof. 
M. G. Wiiu1raMs. 
g. 28th, at 9 P.M. columns of white and yellowish light 
shot from all points of the arch which extended from N. 80° E. 
N. 75° Many of the corruscations passed beyond the 
zenith; in the east the light was pink and deep crimson forming 
a mass about 30° broad and 60° high reaching down to the hort 
zon. ‘The color was sometimes almost blood red. At 9 10™a 
similar mass formed in the N.W. At 9h 15™ a remarkably beau- 
tiful column shot up at N, 50° W. having a breadth of 10° and 
reaching to the zenith. The colors were white, yellowish, pink 
and crimson. About 9 20™ an arch was formed in the south, 
having an altitude of 40° at the centre. A few minutes later, 
the crimson light extended down from the zenith, quite to this 
arch, so that most of the sky was covered with colored light. wat 
9h 50", a beam 2° broad, shot up from 8. 80° W. passing 20° oF 
30° beyond the zenith. Ina few minutes the beam seemed to 
be broken up into fragments of 5° or 6° in lengtb, and presently 
