A. OC. Twining—Aurora of Feb. 4th, 1879. 275 
a dark space or dise beneath it. Its breadth was 16°, and its 
upper boundary ray at or closely contiguous to Regulus and to 
Delta Ursa Maj. Thus it enveloped the handle of the “ Dipper,” 
and it extended down to the horizon both on the east and on 
the west. Between this and the zenith there was a rosy band, 
obviously parallel to the last described, rising from the ‘eastern 
horizon, and passing up between and grazing Gamma Gemin.; 
on the north and Betelgeux on the south, but becoming diffused 
and indefinite soon after passing the meridian. South of this a 
streak, partly white and partly azure, adjoined the last named, 
tion. Its north margin passed 1° south of Beta Orionis, and 
readth. About 8 o'clock it all became temporarily faint. At 
10 15™ both margins remained, in general situation as before, 
and also the eastern extremity nearly or exactly, and appar- 
ently also the western extremity, which faded out at about the 
istance of Andromeda. Thus: the arch was about 123° in 
extent and 11° in breadth, conforming substantially in these 
respects with the similar arch of 1870. At the time of iast 
observation the band was equally brilliant as at first, but clouds 
rapidly formed and covered it from sight. 
he well known and accurate observer, B. V. Marsh, Esq., of 
Philadelphia, among other observations, has obligingly commu- 
nicated the following, made by himself at Haverford, ten miles 
west of that city :-— 
“Feb. 4th, 74 20™ p. vw. Brilliant crimson light in S.E., 
Principally in Canis Maj. and Orion; Sirius was near the center 
; 10 exceedingly fiery patch, which extended some 5° or 6° 
below and eastward, and in the west joined another but little 
less brilliant, enveloping the brightest part of Orion. 
7h 23™7h 30" 'S 
a“ 
and N. 
E., especially the latter, involving the whole handle of the 
per.” Si . 
‘@xtending 5° to 10° below, and about the same distance 
toward t bie 4 
