AURORAS. 
315 
times across to the opposite horizon, with more of 
coruscating movement than any other form. It was 
somewhat remarkable, that of six such displays ob- 
served in October and February, every one was in the 
direction of the sun, then not more than eight degrees 
below the horizon, and in one instance above it — a 
true daylight aurora. These jets, although not col- 
ored, might be looked upon as rudimentary forms of 
those dependent rays, now recognized by observers as 
corresponding in direction with the local magnetic 
inclination. 
If we regard these forms as characterizing generally 
the auroras of this region, we can not help being struck 
with their departure from the indications observed by 
Lieut. Hood, in the Franklin Expedition of 1820. His 
observations may be referred to two general classes. 
The first commencing with arches, either to the east 
or west of the magnetic meridian, or coincident with 
it, sometimes four or five in number, rising in concen- 
tric series, and never less than' 5° in altitude: these, 
upon reaching the zenith, become broad, irregular 
streams, neve'r crossing each other, but coruscating 
with a rapid interior motion, rich with chromatic dis- 
plays. 
Those of the second class propagate themselves from 
points of the compass between the north and west, 
toward the opposite quarters, or sometimes from the 
southeast, and extending themselves to the northwest : 
they are arch-like in form ; with beaming wreaths, flash- 
ing "merry dancers," and jets of pea-green, purple, 
and violet light, like the spark in an exhausted re- 
ceiver. But in both classes the arches are in a plane 
seldom deviating more than two points from the mag- 
netic meridian. Mr. Hood has not described a vibra- 
tory motion without colors. 
