CLIMATE. 133 tinues to fade, re-appear, and change infinitely, until its brilliancy intermingles with and fills the atmo¬ sphere, and then insensibly disappears altogether. It is frequently said, 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 vary frequently, and blow at all seasons from every point of the com¬ pass. No 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 follow.* 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 .