No. III.] 



APPEARANCES OF THE AURORA. 



557 



the zenith. This arch separated after a few minutes, and then two parallel 

 arches were displayed, having the same direction. Slight motion of the needle 

 eastward. 



February 1st. At llh. an arch across the zenith from 279° to 99° for a 

 considerable time stationary. This arch descended to the westward a few mi- 

 nutes before midnight, and when at an elevation of 20 degrees it disappeared. 

 The stars were perfectly visible through the column of light. Needle sta- 

 tionary. 



2nd. At midnight a stream spread from 110° to 167°, ascending gradually 

 from the horizon to an elevation of 30°. The stars appeared through the light 

 with undiminished brilliancy. 



3rd. At 9h. p. m. Aurora commenced by a brilliant arch across the zenith, 

 from 279° to 99°, extending to each horizon, which remained stationary and 

 motionless for several minutes. By midnight the coruscation was generally 

 diffused over the sky. A broad brilliant band elevated 10°, extended from 99° 

 to 200° through an arch of about 279°. An illuminated curve branched from 

 the latter termination, which pointed to 245°, and from this bearing, a beam 

 shot across the zenith, towards the opposite direction ; but it had not proceeded 

 above five degrees eastward of the zenith, when it suddenly turned to the north, 

 and assumed a scroll shape. The needle immediately moved eastward, which is 

 the same direction it had been observed to follow on January 14th, when the 

 streams of light appeared in nearly a similar position in the zenith, namely, ly- 

 ing east and west true, or about 54° and 234° magnetic bearings, but in a con- 

 trary direction to that in which it had been observed to move when the arches 

 crossed the zenith, having their extremities at 279° and 99°, or at 324° and 144°. 

 This coruscation remained for several minutes, when the vertical arch disap- 

 peared, and a band was presented lying parallel to the horizon from 212° to 

 279°. Shortly afterwards, a similar band of light proceeded from 76° to 324°, and 

 the horizon was almost encompassed with a brilliant zone, colour pale-yellow. 

 No motion of the Aurora perceptible. 



4th. At midnight, a faint slender beam arose at 290°, and flashed to the 

 zenith ; at the same instant, another proceeded from 99° to an elevation of 

 50°. A broad low stream of light from 76° to 346°, and a faint belt from 189° to 

 234°. No change was perceived in the needle. 



