Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/416

316 horizon W.N.W. and E.S.E.; it was then blowing a strong north-westerly gale. Between midnight and 1 eleven falling stars were observed in the S.W. quarter, and the Aurora was seen and described in the Log-book by the officer of the watch, Lieutenant Sibbald, as follows: "0 30 to 2 10  observed bright coruscations of the Aurora, forming a succession of arches bearing from west to south at the horizon, passing gradually over to the N.E., each being visible from four to six minutes. At 3  observed bright coruscations directly over head in the form of a crescent, and of all the colours of the rainbow, visible four minutes."

The gale lasted throughout the day, with violent squalls; but we made good way under close-reefed topsails and reefed courses. Several large flocks of the dark-coloured petrel were again seen to-day, and some large shoals of porpoises, all going to the northward.

At 1 30 we passed two narrow lines of heavy ice, the fragments of the numerous bergs about us, and dangerous to merchant vessels keeping so high as the 56th parallel of latitude at this period of the year, on their way to Van Diemen's Land.

The Aurora Australis was visible throughout the night, but without exhibiting any very striking features, generally appearing in a white, diffused, sometimes arched light.

Soon after noon, when in latitude 55° 9′ S., and longitude 132° 28′ E., we hove to, and tried the temperature of the ocean at various depths, as we knew from our observation of the 25th, that