Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 59.djvu/37

Rh whole scene is one of lively contrasts, pleasing to the eye and stimulating to the mind, having quite the reverse of the effect of the days of darkness and depressing storms which have preceded."

At about ten o'clock we saw an aurora. It began as a ragged arc, spread easterly and westerly across the southern sky, with a straight line running under it close to the horizon. The space under the arc was noticeably darker than the surrounding sky, and in this space, also a straight line, were four luminous spots. The color of the aurora was a bright cream with an occasional suggestion of pink.

There was no noticeable reflection of light on the snow, A quick and constant transformation took place in the form of the phenomenon. A wave of light ran through the luminous bands and spots from east to west. Some parts brightened and enlarged, others darkened and faded away. The arcs were generally of a steady rayless brightness; the apparent movement and wavy effect of light were in a series of sharp rays on a film-like display before the arc.

I found it difficult in the low temperature to remain outside for periods sufficiently prolonged to catch the minute changes in force