needle westward. At lOh. 30m., a very irregular arch from 99° to 234°Pi The
interior motion darted rapidly in opposite directions, and the red, purple, and
violet colours were exhibited. Numerous slender beams, in which there was
a quick lateral motion, shot from this arch; some of them were projected to
the zenith. The arch separated at 121°, and the western portion immediately
rushed towards the north, preserving the same elevation ; at this instant, the
wind changed from north to the opposite direction, south. At midnight, a
horizontal band appeared from 99° to 234°, and several beams to the southward.
The needle moved eastward 27' between nine and midnight.
8th. At llh. 10m. p. m., various streams appeared, stratifying a dense
mass of cloud. In two parts of this coruscation, the motion darted from 144°
and 324° towards the zenith; in another, from 76° to the horizon at 144°. The
needle had moved westward 2? 19' since nine. At midnight, a beam rose at
bearing 65°, and darted to an elevation of 30°. Nearly at the same instant,
another beam issued from 9°, and joined this ; and then an arch was formed,
terminating in these bearings. Several other masses of light were seen to the
eastward. The needle had moved eastward T 55' since the last observation.
Heavy dark clouds spread over a large portion of the sky.
11th. At midnight, a faint gleam of Aurora appeared through a very dense
atmosphere, and when there was a halo round the moon.
13th. Atmosphere hazy, no Aurora or stars were visible, yet there was a
motion of the needle 7° to the westward, between nine and midnight.
14th. A faint arch from 313° to 133° at midnight.
15th. At 9h. several brilliant beams bearing 54°, in which there was
much lateral motion and a variety of colours. An arch crossed the zenith
from 313° to 133°. Needle moved westward 9'. At midnight, an arch across
the zenith from 290° to 110°. Another from 65° to 313°, the motion passing
rapidly from the latter to the former horizon. Needle moved a little more
westward.
18th. At midnight, a faint patch bore 144°.
19th. At midnight, streams of a dense pale yellow light, at a low elevation
nearly parallel to the horizon, and extending from 99° to 200°. These were
stationary for some hours—dark clouds lay between them.
20th. Whilst day-light remained, the Aurora was perceived fringing
the upper part of a mass of dense cloud, in shape like thp festoons of a
curtain. It extended from 99° to 200°. At midnight, a waving arch of low
elevation from 76° to 212°. Needle had moved 45° westward since nine.
21st. At 7h. p. m., some streams of cloud which resembled the Aurora in
shape and colour crossed the zenith; but when the daylight disappeared, no
Aurora was visible.
23d. At lOh. 30m. p. m., Aurora first appeared in an arch from 279° to
189°; elevation 12°. Needle moved westward T 11'.
27th. At midnight, Aurora appeared through the haze in two low arches,
from 99° to 189°. '
29th. Aurora beamed through the haze in low streams of faint yellow
colour.
30th. At llh. 40m., some patches of Aurora at 144°, elevated 20°. No
motion perceptible in the needle.
May 1st. The coruscations were very agitated and brilliant between llh.
and midnight, but they did not produce any change in the needle.
3d. Midnight, Aurora proceeded from a mass of dense cloud, bearing 99°,
passed near the zenith to 257°. The attenuated beams of which this arch
was composed, had a quick lateral motion. Little change in the needle.
Daylight in the eastern part of the sky.
5th. A faint stream proceeded from 144° to an elevation of 45°. Needle
moved westward.
I did not observe any Aurora after this day, but Mr. Hood saw it on the
6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, after which date there was constant daylight,
which prevented us from seeing it.