98 Meteoric and Atmospheric Phenomena, 



colour, and very brilliant : they were without trains or sparks ; 

 and most of them between Leo, Virgo, and Ursa Major. In 

 a few minutes another meteor, of a paler colour than any I 

 had observed before, glided almost perpendicularly towards 

 the earth : this was succeeded by another of a more brilliant 

 appearance, which took a westerly direction. This meteor 

 cast a brilliant blue light, and had a short or truncated train, 

 which was of a paler light than the meteor itself, and gra- 

 dually shaded off into a yellowish red ; it appeared, in fact, 

 like a stream of light which the meteor, in its velocity, left 

 behind. Another remarkable circumstance attended this 

 meteor, which I have never observed before ; and that was, 

 the meteor separating itself from its train. The latter imme- 

 diately vanished ; while the former continued its downward 

 course with amazing velocity, gradually losing its blue light, 

 and increasing in redness as it approached the earth.* My 

 health would not allow me to pursue these interesting pheno- 

 mena longer, and I reluctantly retired to bed." 



Had this beautiful meteor taken its course against the 

 wind, which was blowing a strong breeze from the n.e., I 

 should have concluded that the train was under atmospheric 

 influence; but, as its direction was nearly with the wind, the 

 train must either have been outstripped in velocity by the 

 meteor, or it must have been the result of electricity or some 

 other powerful agency. 



A few evenings before the 13th, a gentleman has informed 

 me that he saw a very brilliant meteor, about 7 p.m., which 

 gave a very strong light, and had a train principally consist- 

 ing of bright sparks. A similar meteor to the one above 

 mentioned, I saw about eight o'clock p.m., on Dec. 17. 1830, 

 just below Orion. It took an easterly direction. Its train 

 consisted of sparks. The light produced by the bright blue 

 blaze of the meteor was sufficient to have enabled me to see 

 to read the smallest print. The wind was blowing a fresh 

 breeze from the north. The weather, at this time, was very 

 unsettled, and atmospheric phenomena abundant. 



Aurora? were visible on Dec. 10. 1830, with many meteors: 

 on Dec. 11. and 12., very brilliant, with many meteors in 

 various directions; but not so electrical as those on Nov. 

 13. 1834: on Dec. 13. and 14. 1830, slightly visible, the 



* As this meteor continued its course till surrounding objects hid it from 

 my view, 1 inferred that it was the falling of a meteoric stone ; but how 

 far I am just in making such an inference, I have no proofs. 1 should, 

 therefore, feel obliged by farther opinions of any gentleman on the falling 

 of meteoric stones, and especially an eyewitness of so beautiful a pheno- 

 menon. 



