CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 51 



very large, and one group was visible to the unassisted eye. 

 The faculae upon the surface were fairly well made out. 



Mr. C. B. Hill observed the eclipse with a small reconnoi- 

 tering telescope placed in the inclosure about the observa- 

 tory (objective 2 J inches, magnifying power about 50 diam- 

 eters,) and his time was 2.6 seconds later than that given 

 above. 



The geographical position of the Observatory is : Lati- 

 tude 37 deg. 47 min. 24.1 sec, north; longitude, 122 deg. 25 

 min. 37.6 sec, west, or 8h. 9 min. 42.5 sec, from Greenwich. 



A BRILLIANT METEOR. 



On the evening of October 29, at exactly 11 o'clock p.m. , a 

 remarkably brilliant meteor passed vertically downwards very 

 near to and below y Eridani (3 mag.) It illuminated the 

 street, and its light cast a strong shadow. The train, about 

 5 deg. long, was persistent for three or four seconds, with an 

 intense, vivid brightness, then faded away to a white, vapor- 

 ous looking streak, which assumed a wavy motion for three 

 or four seconds and then vanished. The color was an in- 

 tense white tinged with a purplish hue; and the brightest 

 part of the train which was left was not, at the point of dis- 

 appearance, but about the middle of its length. At the" above 

 time the star had an altitude of 28°. 9 and bore south 39°. 4 

 east. 



INTRA-MERCURIAL PLANETS. 



At the same meeting of the Academy, in November, 1883, 

 the President read the following paper : 



The scientific journals bring us items from the reports of 

 M. Trouvelet, who accompanied Mr. Jannsen to the Caroline 



