CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 19 



22 : Solar halo partially visible in early a.m. — January 23 : This morning, as the sun rose, a bright perihelion with 10 

 degrees of the parhelic circle was formed ; at the moment of greatest brightness the sun appeared double like a figure 

 8 somewhat appressed, the lower was the true sun, while the upper was the mock sun ; the temperature has been 

 as low as — 32° in the past twenty- four hours. — January 24 : The temperature went as low as — 37° to-day. — January 

 25 : A high gale from the northeast increased to a storm rate from the south ; much snow drifted during the day. — 

 January 26 : Strong gusty storm from the south ; much drifting snow. — January 27: Strong gale from the east and 

 southeast; a slight drizzle of rain in p. m. — January 28: Strong gale from SE. to S. ; beautiful display of upper 

 clouds. — January 29 : Gale of variable rate from S. to SW. — January 30 : Strong gale from the south. — January 31 : 

 Strong gale from the northeast; beautiful red sunset. 



FEBEUAEY, 1875. 



February 1: High northeast gale.; a most extravagant display of upper clouds until 2 p. m. ; snow fell at 4 

 p. m. of light character. — February 2 : Much drifting snow from the high winds. — February 3 : Light gale from the 

 south. — February 4 : Very light gale from NE. to E. — February 5: Gale of light character from the northeast. — 

 February 6: A strong gale from the northeast; an aurora began at 9.35 p. m., appearing soon after like heavy 

 drapery moved by a high wind. — February 7 : A light gale rate of wind prevailed at times; eleven bright bands of 

 cirri haze appeared when the sun was within 3 degrees of setting ; they were 35 degrees high, and apparently convergent 

 opposite the sun. — February 8 : A strong gale from the south. — February 9 : A moderate gale blew from the northeast 

 and east. — February 10 : A furious gale in p. m. from the south ; frequent spits of snow. — February 12 : A brisk gale 

 from the northeast. — February 13: To-day was so warm and pleasant that a fly ventured out in my room. — February 

 14 : A light gale from the east; a pale lunar halo at 6 p. ni. — February 15: A strong gale from the southeast. — Feb- 

 ruary 10: Alight gale from the northeast; few flakes of snow fell; a halo and bright corona around the moon at 

 8.15 p. m. — February 17: Strong gale from SE. to SW. ; few flakes of snow fell; lunar corona and halo this even- 

 ing. — February 18: Frost spiculse in moderate quantities formed on different objects to-day. — February 19: A light 

 gale from the northeast drifted much falling snow. — February 20: A strong gale from the northeast; much snow 

 was drifted. — February 21 : Much drifting of snow from the light gale of wind from the northeast. — February 22 : 

 Gusty gale from the northeast; snow drifted furiously. — February 23: Gale to a storm rate of wind from the south. 

 Snow fell in p. m., but was drifted. — February 24: Snow fell, but was drifted. — February 25: A variable gale from 

 NE. to E. — February 26: Strong storm of wind from N. to NE. ; an aurora was visible at 7 p. m., beginning as a low 

 thin, pale yellowish arch, broken in the center; these ends soon united, and from which three other arches appeared 

 and extended across the heavens for 35 degrees south of the zenith, and about the same distance north of the zenith; 

 the center was somewhat brokeu, the brightest part being near 30 degrees from the center; at 7.35 p. m. the southern 

 a,rch disappeared, the band intersecting the zenith had much faded; the one at about 63 degrees elevation had also 

 decreased in brilliancy ; the decrease of intensity of those three arches seemed to augment the power of the lower arch; 

 at the same time the dark segment appeared well defined; at 9 p. m. the remaining arch began to send up streamers 

 which, faint at first, soon became very brilliant and gathered in the zenith (really slightly east of it about 11 degrees) 

 to form a magnificent corona with east and west extensions; the cupola broke at 9.40 p. m., forming along arch with its 

 center in the zenith ; this arch was of a bright sulphur-yellow ; a few minutes elapsed and the arch was broken 

 into disconnected beams which rapidly vanished, so that by 1.30 a. m. of February 27 it had completely disappeared. — 

 February 27 : Strong gale from the north in the early part of the a. m ; a slight trace of yesterday evening's aurora 

 was visible this morning early ; a pale aurora was observed this evening at 9.15 p. m. — February 28 : Considerable 

 vertical mirage this morning ; a pale aurora from 8.20 p. in. to-day lasted until 3 a. m. of March 1. 



MAECH. 1875. 



March 1: Strong gusty gale from the north and northeast, a pale ill-defined aurora from 9.30 p. m. to 10.40 

 p. m. — March 2 : Beautiful twilight curve this evening ; a pale aurora of a single arch from 7.25 p. m. to 11.40 p. m. — 

 March 3: Aurora of a single arch was visible from 10.15 p. m. until 3.25 a. m. of March 4. — March 4: The aurora of 

 yesterday evening continued until 3.25 a. m. to-day. — March 6 : A pale aurora at 8.15 p. m. consisting of ill-defined frag- 

 ments with few "dancers" on the eastern extremity. — March 7 : Apale aurora from 7.45 p.m. to 11.55 p. m. was obscured 

 by clouds. — March 8 : A low storm of wind blew gustily from E. to NE. — March 9: A hard wind-storm blew from var- 

 ious points of the compass. — March 10 : A gusty gale to a high storm rate of wind from the south and southwest ; 

 maximum velocity of 71 miles per hour was registered at 1.30 p. m. little more fell and some melted in exposed 

 places. — March 11 : A high, gusty gale from the south, large flakes of snow fell plentifully, but was drifted. — 

 March 12: Much gustiness of wind; air full of frost- films; two halos, one of 22 degrees and one of 46 degrees, 

 formed round the sun; parhelia formed on the inner halo. — March 14: Gusty gale from the northeast ; fantastic 

 arrangements of upper clouds prevailed to-day. — March 15: A brisk gale from the northeast ; ^now fell at a distance. — 

 March 16: A high gale rate of wind prevailed from the northeast. — March 17: Much snow fell to-day, drifting furi- 

 ously. — March 18: Gusty gale from N. to W. ; snow fell in abundance, but was drifted. — March 19: A moderate 

 gale of wind from the north; air full of frozen vapor, making a faint parhelion; at sunset a faint arc of a halo of 22 

 degrees was observed; a single arch of an aurora was seen from 10. 15 p.m. to 11.45 p.m. when it was obscured by clouds. — 

 March 21 : A perfect halo of 22 degrees was formed around the sun at 2 p. m. — March 22 : Considerable mirage from 7 

 to 8 a. m. — March 23 : A strong storm rate of wind from the west ; the ice in the sea at the northeast point of Saint 

 Michael Island moved out to-day. — March 24 : A strong storm of wind prevailed from the northeast ; much snow 

 drifted. — March 25 : A strong gale from the north in the early part of the day ; much snow drifted ; a halo of 22 degrees 



