But of all the magnificent spectacles that relieve the monotonous gloom of the Arctic winter, there is none to equal the magical beauty of the Aurora. Night covers the snow-clad earth; the stars glimmer feebly through the haze which so frequently dims their brilliancy in the high latitudes, when suddenly a broad and clear bow of light spans the horizon in the direction where it is traversed by the magnetic meridian. This bow sometimes remains for several hours, heaving or waving to and fro, before it sends forth streams of light ascending to the zenith. Sometimes these flashes proceed from the bow of light alone; at others they simultaneously shoot forth from many opposite parts of the horizon, and form a vast sea of fire whose brilliant waves are continually changing their position. Finally they all unite in a magnificent crown or copula of light, with the appearance of which the phenomenon attains its highest degree of splendor. The brilliancy of the streams, which are commonly red at their base, green in the middle, and light yellow toward the zenith, increases, while at the same time they dart with greater vivacity through the skies. The colors are wonderfully transparent, the red approaching to a clear blood-red, the green to a pale emerald tint. On turning from the flaming firmament to the earth, this also is seen to glow with a magical light. The dark sea, black as jet, forms a striking contrast to the white snow-plain or the distant ice-mountain; all the outlines tremble as if they belonged to the unreal world of dreams. The imposing silence of the night heightens the charms of the magnificent spectacle. But gradually the crown fades, the bow of light dissolves, the streams become shorter, less frequent, and less vivid; and finally the gloom of winter once more descends upon the northern desert. CHAPTER II. ARCTIC LAND QUADRUPEDS AND BIRDS. The Reindeer.--Structure of its Foot.--Clattering Noise when walking.--Antlers.--Extraordinary olfactory Powers.--The Icelandic Moss.--Present and Former Range of the Reindeer.-- Its invaluable Qualities as an Arctic domestic Animal.--Revolts against Oppression.--Enemies of the Reindeer.--The Wolf.--The Glutton or Wolverine.--Gad-flies.--The Elk or Moose-deer.--The Musk-ox.--The Wild Sheep of the Rocky Mountains.--The Siberian Argali.--The Arctic Fox.--Its Burrows.--The Lemmings.--Their Migrations and Enemies.--Arctic Anatidæ.--The Snow-bunting.--The Lapland Bunting.--The Sea-eagle.--Drowned by a Dolphin.