through this stream with undiminished brilliancy—the needle moved a few
minutes westward.
February 27th, at 9h. p. m. two arches crossed the zenith from 76° to 279°,
very broad and brilliant; the stars were distinctly visible through them. At
midnight, the Aurora was diffused over a great portion of the sky. Three
arches appeared parallel to each other in the. zenith, whose extremities pointed
to 54° and 234°, and a horizontal stream about 30° high, reaching from 302° to
31°, along which the interior motion was extremely rapid. Soon afterwards,
some dense clouds overspread the sky, but the Aurora gleamed through.
The needle moved near two degrees eastward after nine. It kept an easterly
position until after 2h. p. m. on. the next day, and then itreceded 40 in the course
of an hour. The clouds were of the fleecy kind, which sailors denominate a
mackerel sky. At midnight an irregular band extended from 88° to 200, at an
elevation of 15°. A beam at 324° pointing towards the zenith.
March 1st, at 9h. p. m., an arch stretched from 99° to 155°. At lljh.,
when the snow was falling heavily, and a dense atmosphere obscured the
stars, the Aurora appeared in an arch across the zenith, having its extremities
88° and 200°, but did not extend to either horizon.;. This stream disappeared
before midnight. The atmosphere was then more dense, and the snow descended
in larger flakes. Between midnight and the following morning, the
needle was drawn 45' to the eastward, and it did not recover its usual position
before 9h. p. m. on March 2d.
2d. At 8h. 30' p.m. Aurora appeared in a broad arch from 279?, to 99°, -and
continued without any alteration until nine, when the needle had moved .32
minutes westward. The breadth of the arch then increased considerably, and
a dark cloud passing along its middle gave an appearance of two arches. At
midnight, the coruscations occupied many parts of the sky. Two faint arches:
crossed the zenith from 99° to 279°. A more brilliant arch extended from 76°
to 290°, at an elevation of 60° degrees. Several patches between 54° and
346°, and a broad band from 279° to 223°. The needle did not evince any
material change.
3d. At midnight, a slender beam at 76°, and a patch at 279°. Needle
had moved 10 minutes westward since nine.
4th. At midnight, an arch across the zenith 54° and 234°, in which the
interior motion ran swiftly from the former to the latter bearing. A low band
extended from 279° to 346°. Motion of the needle 10 minutes eastward
since nine.
. 5th. A low stream from 121° to 189°, at an elevation of 10 degrees. No
change in the position of the needle.
6th. The atmosphere very hazy, and snow fell. No Aurora visible, but
the needle moved 30 minutes westward between nine and midnight.
7th. Dense atmosphere. No Aurora or stars visible, but the needle moved
westward 20 minutes between nine and midnight.
8th. At 6h. 30', p.m. Aurora appeared, whilst the western horizon was tinged
with the rays of the recently-departed sun, in two beams from 99° extended
to the zenith. At 9h. p. m., a brilliant stream from 121° to 212°; elevated 10
degrees. A beam, having a wavy form, ascended from 99° to the zenith; its
colour a bright yellow; the stars were seen distinctly through it. No change
in the needle. At midnight, Aurora was diffused over a great portion of the
sky. A broad arch crossed the zenith, whose extremities were at 88” and
200°, but they did not reach either horizon. A band stretched from 279° to
. 76°, elevated 12 degrees, from which three beams were prolonged nearly to
the zenith between 302° and 335°iNeedle moved 1° 5' westward.
9th. At nine, Aurora brilliant and variable; the interior motion passed
rapidly from 234° to 54°. An arch across the zenith, extremities 279° and 99°.
A horizontal band from 245° to 76°. No change in the needle. At midnight,
some patches bearing 324°. An arch was instantly projected from that, bearing
across the zenith to 144°. This arch separated in the zenith, and both
parts passed off against the wind to the westward. The needle moved 30
minutes westward between nine and llh. 30m.
11th. At 9h. p. m., a waving arch passed from 290° to 88°, about 2° east
of the zenith, and reached from one horizon to the other. An elliptical arch
from 313° to 76°, elevated about 50°. At llh., two waving streams stretched
from 279° to 43°, and some beams shot from both these extremities towards
the zenith, but more numerously from 279°. The needle had moved 1° 8'
westward between nine and eleven. Whilst I was looking at the instrument,
a flash darted towards the zenith from a low beam bearing 9°, and the needle immediately
moved 8' westward; but the arch having in a few seconds passed over
to the south, the needle returned eastward to its first position. At midnight, a
beam arose at 54°, darted to the zenith, and then the upper extremity turned 4 c 2