On the 7th April the Aurora was again in the zenith before 10 P.M. at Cumberland House, and in lat. 53° 36´ 40″ N., long. 102° 31´ 41″. The altitude of the highest of two concentric arches at 9h P.M. was 9°, at 9h 30m it was 11° 30´, and at 10h 0m 0s P.M. 15° 0´ 0″, its centre always bearing N. by E. During this time it was between 6 and 7 miles from the earth. [The bearings are true, not magnetic.] [Sidenote: Sir John Franklin’s remarks.] Sir J. Franklin says this was opposed to the general opinion of meteorologists of that period: he also noticed he had sometimes seen an attenuated Aurora flashing across the sky in a single second, with a quickness of motion inconsistent with the height of 60 or 70 miles, the least that had hitherto been ascribed to it. [Sidenote: Dr. Richardson’s conclusions.] The needle was most disturbed, February 13, 1821, P.M., at a time when the Aurora was distinctly seen passing between a stratum of cloud and the earth; and it was inferred from this and other appearances that the distance of the Aurora from the earth varied on different nights. Dr. Richardson concludes that his notes prove, independent of all theory, that the Aurora is occasionally seated in a region of the air below a species of cloud which is known to possess no altitude; and is inclined to infer that the Aurora Borealis is constantly accompanied by, or immediately precedes, the formation of one or other of the forms of cirro-stratus. [Sidenote: Captain Parry observed Auroræ near the Earth’s surface. Sir W. R. Grove’s observation at Chester. Mr. Ladd’s observation at Margate. The author’s observation at Kyle Akin, Skye.] Captain Parry observed Auroræ near the earth’s surface; and records that he and two companions saw a bright ray of the Aurora shoot down from the general mass of light between him and the land, which was distant some 3000 yards. Sir W. R. Grove (‘Correlation of Physical Forces’) saw an Aurora at Chester, when the flashes appeared close, so that gleams of light continuous with the streamers were to be seen between him and the houses—“he seemed to be in the Aurora.” Mr. Ladd, of Beak Street, Regent Street, has related to me an appearance he was struck with, and examined carefully. Standing in the evening in Margate Harbour, he saw a white ray of the Aurora, which, apparently shooting downwards, was clearly placed between his eye and the opposite head of the pier, which projected into the sea. Mr. Ladd also informed me that Prof. Balfour assured him that such an appearance was not unusual. In the double-arc Aurora seen by me in the Isle of Skye, September 11, 1874 (described _antè_, p. 23), I had a strong impression that the bow was near the earth, and thought that the eastern end, and some fleecy clouds in which it was involved, were between myself and the peaks of the distant mountains.