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Ships Among Overhanging Icebergs

(135) country, as a luminous arch near the ing out tongues of flame, which shoot up northern horizon, from which start straight the zenith. When these luminous palpencils, or lambent flames of red and vari- pitating rays reach their greatest extent colored light. the sight is truly wonderful. The Aurora .

These flames, toward the close of the sometimes assumes the shape of a beaudisplay, which may last several hours, tiful fringed curtain hanging in graceful often combine, and form what is called folds from the arch of the firmament. the corona, from its resemblance to a The prevailing color is red, though it crown. Their height above us is usually changes its hues rapidly. The cause of this wonderful phenomesixty miles. As the magnetic needle is strongly affected by the Aurora, it is sup- non is not known. There can, however, posed to be in some manner connected be no doubt that if it be not due to with electric disturbance; and, indeed, if electricity itself, it is closely allied to it. an electric discharge be made through When the Aurora is being displayed , the the vacuum of an air-pump, an appearance magnetic needles are agitated, and curvery like this is presented. rents of electricity stream along the Before the display of these natural fire- telegraph lines, causing the needles to works commences, the sky seems to pre- deflect; the most remarkable fact being pare itself. Its hues deepen, until a well- that the influence which the Aurora has defined segment of dark sky is marked on telegraph lines is totally different to off, its base resting on the northern that exercised by a thundercloud. In horizon; along the line of its arc, and as 1859, at the end of August, the Aurora if from behind the dark segment, a flash- monopolized for hours and worked on its ing luminous light begins to play, so that own account several of the lines in the soon the whole curve is one line of light. United States, chiefly those which had a This light seems like a continuous phos- direction from north to south. The phorescent cloud; it is never still, but European telegraphs were similarly rises, and falls, and breaks-now in one affected by the same Aurora, which place, now in another-continually send- turned operator and did business.