404 M. Poey on the Aurora of 1859. 
said to have been seen on the 13th of November, 1784; the sec- 
ond upon the 14th of November, 1789; the third in 1833 (Nov. 2); 
the fourth on the 17th of November, 1848 ; and finally the ji/th 
and sixth now recorde 
First aurora on the night of Aug. 28th-29th, 1859.—The first 
appearance of a reddish gleam was seen at 5 minutes past 9 in 
the evening, which rapidly rose exactly in the north and ex- 
tended over the space embraced between the N.H. and N.W., 
reaching the height of Polaris about ‘28°. Some persons, it is 
said, saw it as early as 88 45™. Its color grew brighter until 
gh 30m, but from this time it faded to its total disappearance 
at 105, A slightly luminous and whitish tint afterwards covered 
this part of the sky. But at 1 o'clock it reappeared, reaching 
again to Polaris. “tt et its maximum brilliancy at 4" to 4p 
10™—its base being of a beautiful carmine red, from which rose 
divergent rays of a variable diameter, some fire- colored, others 
whitish, and rising to the antes the reddish tint covering a 
space o: of 180° from N.E. to N.W. At 4" 20 the aurora disap- 
peared entirely. 
Second Aurora on the night of the 1st-2d of September —This sec- 
ond — BARDS been incomparably more brilliant, more ex- 
tend ore permanent than the first, it seems best to no- 
tice the rota of its development with care, as points of com- 
parison with observations in higher latitudes. This aurora was 
not Wiilble before 12" 30™, and from that moment to 5" A. M. 
followed all its changes. From 12 80™ to 12" 45™ it spread 
the extreme west. From to 1 r the white rays became 
extinct a portion of the east eae of a beautiful fire-r A 
part of the west became also more flaming, and the summit of 
the entrance of the fort. wt this prillianey in- 
creased and rose above the horizon its tints passed into light 
blue, involving the red eels at the northeast, and presently 
it began to fade out. The upper red segment rose considerably 
above Polaris. The Tiacanen faded towards the northwest 
and embraced the whole of the auroral base; afterwards it rose 
~ Soothe to sa height of 12°. White rays with red and blue were 
the west, which dilated longitudinall y oscilla- 
ted cally. were extinguished and resumed their brilliancy 
again by turns. The intensity of the illumination increa 
‘towards the ‘ast and the red segment tow: west _be- 
came more brilliant and more extended, until at the E.N.E. it 
F 
