CLIMATE. 133

tinues to fade, re-appear, and change infinitely, until its brilliancy intermingles with and fills the atmo- sphere, and then insensiblydisappears altogether. It is frequentlysaid, that a hissing, resembling the rustling of silk, is heard during a brilliant display of aurora. I have seen it appear in a still more luminous and magnificent style than here described, in Labrador; but I never did, nor those with me, observe it accom- panied with any noise, although it is by no means improbable.

The winds all over North America vary frequently, and blow at all seasons from every point of the com- pass.

N 0 wind, however, is so rare as a due north one; ‘ a due south wind is also rare, but more frequent than its opposite. Cold, sharp, and dry winds blow from the north-west, and sometimes bring on light showers of snow in the beginning of winter. Winds from the north-east and east, bring on snow storms in Winter, sleet and wet weather in spring, and heavy rains in summer and autumn. Thaws take place in winter with a south-easterly Wind, after which the wind shifts to the north-west, the sky clears up, and severe frosts followf‘6 South-west Winds, inclining sometimes a point or two southward or westward, prevail through the summer and autumn : these Winds are always warm, and usually spring up and blow fresh about noon, and calm off towards evening. At

* The keen north-west wind, during winter, is often called the “ Barber" in America.