THE ARCTIC SEAS. 183 
pale yellow; the redness would flash about, as did 
the white light before, still not breaking the general 
form of the corona. In a few minutes all the red 
hue had vanished, leaving the upper sky nearly un- 
occupied. The arch also was now totally gone, and 
in its place there were only irregular patches of 
yellow light, of varying radiance. At a quarter 
past nine the upper sky was again filled with pale 
flashes: in the north were perpendicular pillars of 
light, comparatively stationary. At half-past nine 
there was no material change, and at ten all had 
assumed a very ordinary appearance, merely large 
clouds of pale light being visible.’* The cause 
which produces these beautiful coruscations of light 
in high latitudes has not yet been satisfactorily 
known: it seems pretty certain that their origin is 
in general far above our atmosphere. 
Montgomery alludes to the Aurora in the follow- 
ing beautiful lines :— ? 
‘ Midnight hath told his hour: the moon, yet young, 
Hangs, in the argent west, her bow unstrung ; 
Larger and fairer, as her lustre fades, 
Sparkle the stars amidst the deepening shades : 
Jewels more rich than night’s regalia gem 
The distant Ice-Blink’s spangled diadem ; 
Like a new morn from orient darkness, there 
Phosphoric splendours kindle in mid-air, 
As though from heaven’s self-opening portals came 
Legions of spirits in an orb of flame,— 
Flame that from every point an arrow sends, 
Far as the concave firmament extends: 
Spun with the tissue of a million lines, 
Glistening like gossamer the welkin shines: 
* Canadian Naturalist, p. 47. 
M 
