23 
in summer they enjoy the sight of the 
sun almost without intermission; but, for 
the same space in winter, (especially in 
December,) that luminary hardly rises 
above the horizon, and is commonly ob¬ 
scured by clouds and mists. 
The sun from far shows with a sickly face, 
Too weak the fogs and mighty dews to chase. 
In this gloomy season, the absence of 
day is supplied partly by moon-light, and 
partly by the radiance of the aurora 
borealis , or merry-dancers, as they are 
called in these Islands. These are the 
constant attendants of clear evenings, 
and prove great reliefs amidst the gloom 
of the dark winter night. They com¬ 
monly appear at twilight near the ho¬ 
rizon, of a dun colour, approaching to 
yellow; sometimes continuing in that 
state for several hours without any ap¬ 
parent motion, after which they break 
out into streams of stronger light, spread- 
