204 Account of the Scientific Observations made 
quick succession during the whole time the column appeared. 
Its breadth was about equal to the sun’s diameter, and its height 
or altitude, when in its greatest splendour, was between 4 and 
5 degrees.” It was visible for about 3-4ths of an hour before 
and after noon. Captain Sabine saw a similar column about ten 
o’clock, immediately over the spot where the sun was. 
Mr Fisher observed dther two examples of the aurora 
borealis in Baffin’s Bay, on the t 13th September, in Latitude 
68°, and on the 3d October in Latitude 60°. The first ex- 
tended from the west to the south-east point of the hori- 
zon ; and the second extended in an arch, from east to w T est, 
across the zenith. It displayed most of the prismatic colours, 
as red, orange, yellow and green, and lake was predominant in 
some parts. It appeared sometimes in immense sheets of light, 
and at other times it darted in straight columns to the zenith. 
A sort of serpentine motion was distinctly observed at one time, 
from west to east, across the zenith. The electrometer was not 
affected. 
The observers of the aurora borealis have frequently main- 
tained, that the stars seen though it appear with their usual bril- 
liancy. Mr Fisher, in particular, makes this remark ; but Cap- 
tain Parry and Captain Sabine thought that they observed a 
distinct diminution of lustre. There can be no doubt that the 
brilliancy of the stars is not deeply affected by the beams of 
the northern lights ; but it is equally certain that these lights 
must impair their brilliancy to a certain extent, merely from the 
action of light upon the retina ; and this effect would be the 
same, even if the stars were placed between the aqrora borealis 
and the observer. 
2. Paraselenae cind Halos . — On the 1st December 1819, be- 
tween 7 and 8 o’clock P. M., four paraselenae, or mock moons, 
were observed, each at the distance of 21^° from the moon. 
One of them was close to the horizon, and the other perpendicu- 
larly above it. The other two \rere in a line parallel to the hori- 
zon. Their shape was like that of a comet, the tail being from 
the moon. The side towards the moon was of a light orange 
colour. During the existence of these paraselenae, a halo or lumi- 
nous ring appeared round the moon in a circle, and passing 
through all the paraselenae. At this instant two yellowish co= 
