388 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



forward this account, because this same phamomenon, I learn from 

 the Illustrated News (date 24th September), was also seen at Dublin, 

 York and Huddersfield, and is considered by the editor as an un- 

 usual phase of the Aurora. 



My correspondent says, her attention was called to the meteor at 

 Exeter about 10 o'clock r.M. of the 2nd of September. " In appear- 

 ance it resembled a thin, luminous, white cloud, more opake than 

 the Aurora, but allowing stars to be seen through it ; in shape, like 

 the tail of a comet ; in length, by estimation, about 15°, and in 

 breadth about 4° at the broadest part. The direction was vertical, 

 occasionally inclining (bowed out as it were) towards the south. 

 The situation, between Arcturus Bootes and the Milky Way, nearly 

 in the west. The meteor was nearly stationary, as we saw from a 

 star of the third magnitude, which at first looked like its nucleus, 

 and then gradually left it. The stationary position was also shown 

 by a tree below. The light was mild. It hardly flashed, but rather 

 heaved or throbbed, if such terms can be used in reference to light. 

 Sometimes it beamed upwards to a great height, and once it ap- 

 peared to separate at the lower part, still preserving its former ap- 

 pearance, and the higher becoming elongated. 1 watched it about 

 three quarters of an hour, when it paled, and at five minutes to 1 1 

 faded away ; but even then there seemed to be a slight mist diffused 

 over the sky in the west, which had not quite disappeared at 10 

 minutes past 11. — A. R. Bennett." 



To the above I would add, that my attention was directed to the 

 same appearance here at Sidmouth at 9 o'clock, and that I observed 

 it, at intervals, till about 15 minutes to 11. The meteor was of a 

 brilliant white colour ; at one time the upper part divided ; a star 

 also formed for a length of time an apparent nucleus. In length it 

 was about 10° or 12°; its lower end was elevated about 10° or 11° 

 above the horizon, as I afterwards ascertained from stationary ob- 

 jects, but roughly, with a common quadrant. Its direction was 

 about 50° west of magnetic north. 



I am, Sir, 



Respectfully yours, 



N. S. Heineken. 



P.S. I have been informed that the same meteor was observed in 

 Cheshire about 10, that it was very bright and stationary. 



ON THE EMPLOYMENT OP HEAT, SULPHURIC ACID, AND DEUT- 

 OXIDE OF MANGANESE IN BUNSEN's BATTERY, AND ON A 

 MEANS OF GREATLY DIMINISHING THE COST OF NITRIC ACID 

 FOR THIS BATTERY. BY F. P. LEROUX. 



M. Guignet has recently stated* that the nitric acid of Bunsen's 

 pile might be replaced, at ordinary temperatures, by a mixture of 



* Comptes Rendus. 



