No. III.] 



Dr. RICHARDSON ON THE AURORA. 



603 



December 7th, 1820. 



Hour. Temp. Wind. 



A. M. 9 - 24 W. Moderate and clear, stratus near the horizon. 

 Noon -14 do. do. 



P.M.2h.30m.~20 N.b.S. do. Mist from the rapid, before the sun rose 



and after it set. 

 9 _26 W.b.N. do. Clear. 

 At lOh. p.m. the Aurora formed an arch, broader towards its middle, and 

 emitting a denser light from its southern edge, but becoming fainter by 

 imperceptible degrees towards its northern edge, until it disappeared 

 altogether. Its upper or northern edge lay near the zenith. As its limbs 

 approached the horizon, they became more slender, and assumed a twisted 

 appearance. The stars appeared very dimly through the more dense parts of 

 the Aurora. 



December 8th, 1820. 



Hour. Temp. Wind. 



A. M. 9 — 29 W. S. W. Moderate, clear. Dense mist hanging over tne rapid. 

 Noon -27 N.N.W. do. do. Mist scarcely visible. 

 P. M. 2| — 27 N. do. do. Mist re-appearing. 



9 -30 N.N.E. do. do. No Aurora visible at nine. 

 Midnt. N. Fresh do. Rapid, very noisy. 



At llh. p. m. sky very clear, and the stars brilliant. A well-formed arch of 

 light crossed the zenith, extending from N.W. to S.E. It moved slowly to 

 the southward, broke up into several irregular masses of light, and disap- 

 peared. At midnight, there was no appearance of Aurora. 



December 9th, 1820. 



Hour. Temp. Wind. 



A. M. 9 - 34 N. b. E. Moderate, clear, Temperature of the rapid 32°— 

 Noon —30 do. do. do. I of the water in the river, ascer- 



4 do. do. do. 1 tained by the same thermometer, 



9 —36 W. Light, very do. J through a hole in the ice, 31. 3°. 

 The Aurora made its first appearance at 9 o'clock p. m., near the horizon in 

 the N.W.b.N., and shot over to the S.W., forming several concentric arches, 

 the uppermost of which passed a little to the southward of the zenith. As 



4 H 2 



