commonly termed Shooting Stars, 151 



bable than the opinion of the ancients, that they were the 

 very things expressed by their common English name. 



It is something, however^ that attention is now directed to 

 the subject; and the following observations are communicated 

 with the view as well of inviting further enquiry, as of record- 

 ing what materials I have been able to collect, from personal 

 observation, for the use of those who may be better able to 

 give the desired explanation. 



The most common and abundant of these meteors are 

 those which simply become visible, apparently from inflam- 

 mation ; which fall from their altitude, usually, in an oblique 

 course ; and, after the lapse of a few seconds, cease to be 

 visible. These are commonly of a pale yellowish tint ; often 

 pass in a waved, or serpentine, course, not unfrequently in a 

 nearly horizontal line ; and appear to be influenced by the 

 resistance of the air; which, however, does not guide them, 

 unless we are to suppose that there is a different current in 

 the place where they appeared, for their slope is in every 

 direction, as compared with the wind blowing at the time. 

 I once, about the end of the month of September, but in 

 what year I have not recorded, had an opportunity of seeing 

 as many of these meteors in one night, as, during the lapse of 

 many years, with excellent opportunities, I have ever wit- 

 nessed, if the whole were added together. They were inces- 

 sant during a ride of many miles ; but I could not count 

 more than four visible at once. This meteor never appears 

 in thick and misty weather ; but, if clear, they are seen in 

 the coldest, as well as the warmest, seasons. Sometimes they 

 make a great blaze in their course; and, in one instance, I 

 observed one which, in its progress, parted into two, of about 

 equal size ; one of the portions keeping on its course, while 

 the other dropped off more perpendicularly, as if of greater 

 specific gravity. I have known it to show a tendency to 

 ascend towards the end of its course, to undulate four or five 

 times in its progress, and, when the time of its duration is 

 five or six seconds, to suffer an evident declension of size 

 before extinction. 



A shooting star, very different from the former, is that 

 which is accompanied with a luminous train, and which 

 always proceeds in a straight line, as if projected by force. 

 It differs from the former, also, in colour, being of a fine 

 white; and, from careful and repeated observation, it appears 

 that the train is not formed, or kindled, from the body of the 

 meteor, but consists of an immense assemblage of fine grains, 

 that appear, or are kindled, at the same time as the body, and 

 from the same cause, but of particles that were at the time in 



m 4 



