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elements to determine the date at which the first berg will be floated off. 
If this be the true theory of icebergs, their extraordinary abundance in the 
Antarctic Seas will suggest large tracts -of land in the south frigid zone. 
The Aurora stands pre-eminent amongst the atmospheric phenomena of 
the polar regions. Captain Hall alludes to some peculiarities respecting it 
not generally known. It was attended by the land of clouds named cirro- 
cumuli, and the auroral beam illuminated the face of the cloud, proving 
that it was at play between the cloud and the observer. Tlds writer 
mentions as the most remarkable feature he ever witnessed the peculiar 
movement of the clouds overhead, which was by hitches, passing with the 
wind slowly 'and then stopping for a few seconds. It seemed as if the 
clouds were battling with an unseen enemy, but that the former had the 
greater power and forced their way by steps along the vault above. The 
observer felt sure the aurora had something to do with it. Dr. Walker, 
Naturalist to McClintock's expedition, also expresses his conviction that 
on several occasions the aurora was only a few feet above the vapour 
rising from the sea. 
McClintock, Simpson and Kane all refer to the connexion between the 
aurora and clouds, and think the former is never seen in a perfectly clear 
atmosphere. Most observers have negatived the idea of the accompaniment 
of sound, but Mr. Simpson was convinced of the fact upon what he 
considered good evidence. 
The discovery of the position of a magnetic pole by Sir James Clark 
Eoss claims some notice. Previous calculation had nearly determined its 
place and it was most interesting to find as the actual place was neared 
that the horizontal needle ceased to move and the dipping needle became 
more and more nearly perpendicular until it showed a dip of 89° 59 only one 
minute from the vertical. This was in latitude 70° 5 ' 17 " 1ST. and longitude 
96° 46' 45 " W. Fifteen years later the same discoverer made the nearest 
approach ever effected to the place of the south magnetic pole, determining 
it to be in about 155° E. long, and 75° S. lat. 
The phenomena of cold and darkness during the Arctic winter claim 
attention. The effect of a fall in temperature to —50° or —60° 
Fahrenheit is shown by the tendency to sleep, and in its worst form 
exhibits itself in loss of reasoning power, memory and every mental 
faculty. Dr. Kane narrates several instances of this species of insanity 
among his men, and was himself to some extent the subject of it. The 
influence of the long intense darkness is described by the same writer as 
most depressing. Even the dogs were strangely affected by it and many 
