through a very dense atmosphere. A beam, at 324“, elevated 15 . An arch
from 234° to 121° and some short beams at 76°.
,, 23d. At nine, two parallel arches from 313° to 76°, supported on buttresses
at both extremities. The appearance resembled a bridge of light. At
llh. 30', the northern and eastern parts of the sky were entirely free from
Aurora. Some irregularly-curved streams extended from 99° to 234°, and
dark clouds intervened between them. At midnight three arches from 110° to
234°, the upper one most brilliant. No perceptible interior motion of the
Aurora. The needle moved 10° westward after nine.
24th. At 9h. p. m. Aurora appeared through the clouds and snow, traversing
the zenith in the direction of 65° and 245°. The needle moved
eastward 1° 5'. At midnight, a beam from 99°, of slender breadth when near
the horizon, dilated considerably in its ascent, and at its termination in the
zenith spread so as nearly to cover the upper part of the heavens. Another
beam arose from the same point, curved several degrees to the westward, and
then proceeded to the zenith. These beams quickly disappeared, but a low
arch extending from 279° to 65° remained stationary. The needle moved
westward between nine and midnight 1° 22'.
25th. At9h. p. m. faint beams at 324s and 144°. At midnight, a horizontal
stream from 133° to ,223°; some beams at 324°, and patches in several
other parts: all very faint.
26th. At 9h. p. m. a faint Aurora at 99°. At midnight,' a mass of dense
light burst forth bearing 65°, at an elevation of 20°, which presently curved
round, and assumed the shape of a horse-shoe; at that instant a beam flashed
from 324° to the nearest part of the curve, and immediately an arch proceeded
upwards, and passed about 3° eastward of the zenith. The needle moved
eastward 12'. ..
28th. At 8h. p. m., when day-light was perceptible to the westward,
a stream of Aurora issued from a dark mass of cloud bearing 110°, and
proceeded upwards in the direction of 346°; but when it reached the zenith,
the upper part inclined to the westward, and an arch was formed from 110°
to .290°, reaching from one horizon to the other. Some smaller streams
appeared about 189°, lying parallel to a range of clouds which resembled it
in colour, both being a steel-grey. The extremities of these streams pointed
121° and 257°. At 9h. p. m. clear weather. Three arches appeared, one from
94° to 290°, elevated 80?, the other from 290° ; passing about 2° east of the
zenith, and the third went parallel to this, and united in the same points in the
horizon, but they were separated in the zenith by a stream of cloud. In two
minutes afterwards, the first arch disappeared, and the two others closing in
the zenith, formed one broad stream, and passed off to the westward. Stars
were faintly seen. At midnight, a very dense atmosphere obscured the sky ;
neither stars nor Aurora visible. The needle, however, moved 35' westward
between nine and midnight.
29th. A faint gleam of Aurora fringed the upper part of some dark clouds
between 133° and 155°.
30th. At 9h. a broad arch across the zenith from 88P to 290°j and the interior
motion was rapid. At midnight, an arch from 110° to 257°, elevated
20°; it separated in the zenith, and then the light passed instantaneously down
to each horizon. Needle moved westward.
April 1st, the changes in the position of the needle this morning deserve
some notice. At 8h. a.m. it was nearly in the same position as at midnight;
an hour afterwards it had moved 12 eastward, and by eleven, 10' more. At
8h. a.m. there was a mackerel sky to the north, the strata of the clouds being
vertical. Near the west horizon there was a layer of dense clouds which soon
spread over the whole sky. At 1 lh. these dark clouds gave place to a thin
fleecy sky, and many blue portions were seen. The needle then returned
towards the westward, and by four had reached within two minutes of the
point at which it stood at 9h. a.m. At ,9h. 30' p. m. the Aurora, appeared
through a hazy atmosphere, in an arch from 99° to 234°.
5th. An arch passed from 88° to 178°, at a low elevation. At midnight,
an arch composed of several streams apparently blended together, issued from
110°, and passed about 10° west of the zenith to the horizon at 279°. This
arch separated in the zenith, and then each part passed over to the horizon at
279°. A very slender faint arch remained from 9° to 189°. The needle
moved a little westward.
6th. At nine, masses of light of irregular breadth fringed the upper
part of a range of clouds extending from 99° to 212°. At midnight a waving
low stream from 99° to 212°, of dense light, the motion rapid, going towards
the latter bearing. Motion of the needle westward.
7th. At 9h. p.m., an arch stretching from 279° to 110° ; motion of the