100 The Midnight Sun. 



north of the equator the days will be more than twelve hours 

 long, to an observer at 60 degs. north latitude ; and when 

 south of that circle they will be less than twelve hours. There 

 is a circle,, III, representing the path of a star which never 

 descends below the horizon. Thus, at London, there are 

 certain constellations, such as the Great Bear, Draco, Cas- 

 siopea, Cepheus, the Little Bear, Perseus, and others, which 

 never set, and which are visible on every fine night throughout 

 the year, performing their incessant revolutions round the 

 north Pole Star as a centre. Such stars are called circumpolar, 

 and all stars whose distance from the pole is less than the 

 latitude of the place will be circumpolar there. Of such 

 stars at London, Capella and those of the Great Bear form 

 conspicuous examples, being always above the horizon, though 

 of course requiring instrumental aid to be seen in that part of 

 their diurnal path which is performed in daylight. Within the 

 same distance from the depressed southern pole, will be found 

 a number of constellations, the stars of which never rise to our 

 observer at 60 degs. north latitude ; an example is seen in the 

 figure at IV, and many of the southern constellations are so 

 situated with respect to us. I have been thus minute in 

 describing the apparent paths of stars at different latitudes, 

 because the explanation of the Midnight Sun depends upon 

 the fact, that within the Arctic circle, that is, at a less distance 

 than 23£ degs. from the pole, the sun becomes at midsummer 

 circumpolar, like the stars we have so called, and while at a 

 latitude of 66% degs., where the circle is drawn, this happens 

 only on the longest day ; as we proceed nearer to the pole, his 

 path becomes more parallel to the horizon, and he continues 

 circumpolar for a longer period. The sun, in fact, seems to go 

 round the earth in a ring, inclined to the horizon, having his 

 greatest altitude, due south, at twelve o' clock in the day (which 

 in Lapland would be about 47 degs.), and his lowest point just 

 touching the northern horizon at twelve o'clock at night. Fur- 

 ther north, the southern altitude would become less, and the 

 northern greater ; till near tho polo the circle would be nearly 

 parallel with tho horizon, and could wo reach tho polo, entirely 

 so. Thus, the " Old Bushman/* whoso quarters were at 

 Quickiock, only just within the circle, although for about a 

 month at midsummer he could always see the rays of tho sun 

 reflected on the northerly foils at midnight, and, in fact, for 

 two months had the night as Light as day, for reading, hunting, 

 and Bhooting — had to ascend " Porti Fellen," about 5000 feet 

 high, on June 2 1th, at midnight, to see the sun himself; but 

 had ho gone furthernorth, even to tho North Cape, as many 

 travellers do, no ascent would have been necessary. It may 

 horo bo remarked that Lapland is the only place which is 



