136 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1820. diffusion of the Aurora; but I should think the effect of the one now de- 
scribed, scarcely equal to that of the moon when a week old. The usual 
pale light of the Aurora strongly resembles that produced by the combustion 
of phosphorus ; a very slight tinge of red was noticed on this occasion, when 
the Aurora was most vivid, but no other colours were visible. Soon after we 
returned on board, the splendid part wholly disappeared, leaving only the 
ordinary light near the horizon; in other respects, the night remained un- 
changed, but on the following day it blew a fresh gale from the north 
and N.N.W.” This Aurora had the appearance of being very near us, and we 
listened attentively for the sound which is said sometimes to accompany bril- 
liant displays of this phenomenon, but neither on this nor on any other oc- 
Sun. 16. casion, could any be distinguished. On the following day, the Aurora was 
repeatedly seen for an hour or two together, assuming the shape of a long low 
arch, from 3° to 12° high in the centre, extending from south to N.W. 
About this time it had been remarked, that a white setter dog belonging 
to Mr. Beverly had left the Griper for several nights past at the same 
time, and had regularly returned after some hours’ absence. As the day- 
light increased, we had frequent opportunities of seeing him in company 
with a she-wolf, with whom he kept up an almost daily intercourse for 
several weeks, till at length he returned no more to the ships ; having either 
lost his way by rambling to too great a distance, or what is more likely, 
perhaps, been destroyed by the male wolves. Some time after, a large 
dog of mine, which was also getting into the habit of occasionally remaining 
absent for some time, returned on board a good deal lacerated and covered 
with blood, having, no doubt, maintained a severe encounter with a male 
wolf, whom we traced to a considerable distance by the tracks on the 
snow. An old dog, of the Newfoundland breed, that we had on board the 
Hecla, was also in the habit of remaining out with the wolves for a day 
or two together; and we frequently watched them keeping company on the 
most friendly terms. 
Tues. 25. A wolf, which crossed the harbour close to the ships on the 25th, was ob- 
served to be almost entirely white, his body long and extremely lean, stand- 
ing higher on his legs than any of the Esquimaux dogs, but otherwise much 
resembling them ; his tail was long and bushy, and always hanging between 
his legs, and he kept his head very low in running. It is extraordinary that 
we could never succeed in killing or catching one of these animals, though 
we were, for months, almost constantly endeavouring to do so. 
