S80 Scientific Intelligence, — Meteorology. 



less agitated,— a fact illustrative of its connection with the polar 

 lights. It is even probable, that the cirri observed during the 

 day time are often accompanied with polar lights, which, how- 

 ever, are invisible, owing to the stronger light of the sun. This 

 display of the polar lights, like that of the month of August, 

 was followed by a change of windy rain showers, and gales of 

 wind. 



6. Meteor, — A very fine meteor was seen at Laytonstone, 

 about four miles north of Greenwich, on the 21st of May last, 

 at 10^ 30"^ p. M. When first seen, the meteor had the appear- 

 ance of a small spark, moving slowly in an oblique direction 

 across the western sky. When about half through its course, the 

 light suddenly and rapidly increased in splendour, assuming a 

 very rich yellow hue, and emitting sparks from the main body. 

 After this appearance of ignition, it left a few feeble sparks, 

 which continued to move in the same right line a short space, 

 and then disappeared. Jupiter shone at a little distance above 

 the meteor, but very far short of its brilliancy ; though similar 

 in its explosive appearance to a rocket, the meteor was at once 

 to be distinguished from any projectile of that kind, by the re- 

 markable straight direction of its course, from first to last, with- 

 out the least appearance of the course which the attraction of 

 gravitation to the earth would have occasioned. The following 

 observations were immediately taken respecting its course : Alti- 

 tude of its first point of appearance 28° ; altitude of its last point 

 of extinction 10° ; length of its course 28° ; bearing of its first 

 point 54° west from south ; bearing of the last point 37° west 

 from south ; the time occupied in traversing its course rather 

 exceeded four seconds. The meridian of Greenwich is scarcely 

 half a second west of the place of observation. The above me- 

 morandum may be interesting to other observers, and serve as 

 materials for calculation. 



7. Luminous Cross in the Heavens. — Luminous crosses, oc- 

 casioned by peculiarities in intersecting halos, are sometimes ob- 

 served in the sky, particularly of arctic countries. Some pre- 

 tended miraculous crosses which have been seen in the air in mo- 

 dern times, are to be traced to atmospheric reflections. In the • 

 month of February 1827, a shining cross, we are informed by 



