Prof. E. Loomis on the Aurora of 1859. 81 
bout 10 a.m, Aug. 29th, the wires of the electric telegraph were 
seized with an unaccountable fit of restiveness. They did not altogether 
refuse to work, but acted irregularly, the adjustment of the instrument 
altering so frequently that it was almost impossible to get any continuous 
message throu his state lasted until the evening, when the wires 
began to work better. 
From the preceding observations, and from those which have 
been heretofore published in this Journal, it appears that the re- 
markable auroral display which prevailed throughout a — 
th, 
order to determine whether such a coincidence is a common oc- 
currence, I have sought for some long and continuous record of 
the aurora in the southern hemisphere. The most complete 
record of this kind which I have found is that made at the Brit- 
ish magnetic observatory at Hobarton, on Van Dieman’s Island 
during the years 1841-48. These observations have been pub- 
lished by the British Government, and the first part of the fol- 
lowing table contains all the instances of auroral exhibitions 
whieh I have been able to find in these volumes. 
The second part of the table contains the Sabie em ob- 
Servations made at New Haven by Mr. E. C. Herrick, who kept 
a careful record (negative as well as positive,) of all auroral 
L. Observations of the Aurora at Hobarton, Van Dieman’s Island, lat. om 52’ 8. 
14 
long. oT K. 
Magnetic Dip in 1845 . . . .-70° 35"6. 
Hobarton mean 1 ; iy aurea 
Astronomical reckoning. Notices of Auroras. 
i Der ~~ Hour. 
1841. March 16,| 17h. Slight appearance of Aurora. 
March 22, 15 Faint appearance of Aurora. 
May 17, 18 Slight appearance of Aurora. 
July 20, 9 Aurora very brilliant in 8.E. 
Dee, 17, 11 Slight Aurora in south. 
1842. Jan. 1, sel Appearance of Aurora to the south. 
Feb. 2, 9 Slight appearance of Aurora in 8. W. 
eb. 1 9 “Appearance of Aurora In the south. 
April 11, Slig P ce of ra in the 
April 13, | 18-15 Aurora in the sout 
April 14 Aurora in the sout 
April 15, Aurora in the south 
y 16, 9-15 Aurora from 8.E. to 8. 
June 13, 11 Faint Aurora in the south 
July 2, 7-11 Slight Aurora in the south. : 
Sept. 2, 13 Steady bright light in the 8. 
Dee. 31 9 Slight Aurora in the south. ‘ 
Sop rl ast PED ote 
Am. Jour. Sci.—Szconp Senizs, VoL. XXXII, No. 94—Juty, 1861. 
11 
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