276 Dr. Brandes's Examination of a gelatinous Substance, tyc. 



seem, in proportion to the penis, and the ovarium connects 

 with it before it enters the vagina. There is, therefore, no 

 doubt that this bladder forms a portion of the female parts, 

 and furnishes perhaps the gelatinous substance for the eggs, 

 especially as this bladder is found in all snails. Their con- 

 tents, however is solid, soft like pomatum, and red-brown, 

 which has led to the erroneous supposition of its being pur- 

 ple." (Compare also Cuvier on the same subject.) Although 

 the egg-sticks of the Umax, as mentioned, are very small, it is 

 yet possible to suppose our substance to have been the spawn 

 of a Liimax rufus, or some other species, since its great bulk 

 chiefly arose from water, — a reason too why its solid contents, 

 compared with its volume, were so small, and those of the water 

 so great ; and I was enabled, as we have seen in the experi- 

 ment with boiling water, to swell it to its actual extent. This 

 supposition was further confirmed, on my finding in a portion 

 of the substance which I had placed in a small cup before the 

 window of my study for a few days, a little naked snail (limax)o$ 

 about a quarter of an inch long. I think, therefore, I may po- 

 sitively assert that the white gelatinous substances which are 

 occasionally found in damp meadows, and frequently pro- 

 nounced to be the substance of shooting- stars, are not of at- 

 mospheric origin, but consist of the spawn of the above-men- 

 tioned snails, which, although small in its natural state, and 

 therefore remaining unobserved, assumes, in damp places, by 

 absorbing water, the large bulk and white gelatinous appear- 

 ance, necessarily attracting the attention of persons who find 

 them in their way ; and finally, that its being found only in 

 damp places is owing to the very nature of this spawn. 



I doubt whether the real substance of a shooting-star has 

 ever been found. Whoever has observed these meteors, must 

 be convinced that one could not so readily notice the spot 

 where they seem to fall in the darkness of night, as to be able 

 to find out the supposed substance, and as it were be able to 

 say that he has a fallen star in his hand. Before this can be 

 clearly shown, it may yet have to be proved whether any opi- 

 nion can be formed as to the nature of shooting-stars. Even 

 the observation of the above-mentioned American meteor seems 

 subject to doubt ; and it is still a question whether the produce 

 of a fiery meteor could be a gelatinous mass ? 



Our knowledge of meteors is indeed much increased by the 

 inquiries of Professor Brandes of Breslaw ; but still the nature 

 of the substance seems to be enveloped in doubt. 



It now only remains for me to consider the apparent dif- 

 ferences which seem to exist between the observations of 

 Messrs. Buchner and Schwabe, and my own ; which may be 



satisfactorily 



