W. GARDINER ON AURORA. 



207 



For several years past this splendid phenomenon has been of fre- 

 quent occurrence, and I have observed that it was invariably followed 

 by moist weather, and a southerly wind, or at least a decided change 

 from that which preceded it. Sometimes the change was immediate, 

 at others it occurred after the lapse of a few days, and in extent was 

 proportionable to the brilliancy of the aurora ; a magnificent display 

 of the phenomenon being generally succeeded by a violent storm or a 

 continued fall of rain, and a faint one by merely a haziness of the 

 atmosphere, or at most a moderate shower. These assertions are the 

 result of observation, and based upon a multitude of facts, of which 

 the following are examples : — 



August 13, 1828. Several beautiful streams of the aurora borealis 

 appeared above the northern horizon about midnight ; sky clear ; 

 wind E. 14. Cloudy, with passing showers. 15. Cloudy till noon, 

 wind S. The five succeeding days were dull, with occasional soft 

 showers, the wind varying from W. to S, 



September 15, 1828. A luminous arch seen about nine in the 

 evening; wind changeable. 16. Wind W. 17. Dull and cloudy; 

 wind variable. 18 and 19. Same as the preceding. 20. Still dull, 

 with a chill east wind. 21 and 22. Mists and clouds still prevailed ; 

 wind S. E. 23. Much rain. 24. Cloudy and showery : in the af- 

 ternoon the equinoctial gale commenced blowing with great violence 

 from the S. W., and continued with little intermission till the 2nd of 

 October, when it gradually diminished to a gentle breeze, and on the 

 6th veered to the S. E. 



October 3, 1829. Vivid aurora illuminated the northen sky, im- 

 mediately succeeded by a strong gale from the S. W., which con- 

 tinued, with the exception of a few slight variations to the W. and 

 N. W., till the 12th. There were several showers on the 6th, and rain 

 commenced falling about nine o'clock p. m. on the 12th, which con- 

 tinued till the same hour on the following evening. 



August 20, 23, and 26, 1830. Bright aurorse boreales, which were 

 attended with cold, wet, stormy weather, and destructive hoar-frosts. 

 November, same year. About the middle of the month the aurora 

 appeared in great splendour, and the succeeding day brought a 

 tremendous thunder-storm. 



March 3, 1831. Aurora about ten in the evening. 4. Cloudy. 

 5. Heavy rain. 



September 6, 1831. The aurora appeared above the northern horizon, 

 beautiful, resembling the dawn of a summer morning On the 7th, several 



