1879.] ^J [Kirkwood. 



Prof. Frazer read parts of a correspondence which he had 

 had with Mr. Meehan, respecting the local cause of change 

 of color in autumn foliage. 



A letter from Prof. Lauth, of Munich, was read, relating 

 to his recent investigations and proposed publication of a 

 new work on Egyptology. 



Pending nominations, Nos. 878 to 882 and new nomina- 

 tion No. 883 were read. 



Mr. Fraley, for the Finance Committee, reported that he 

 had collected and paid over to the Treasurer, the quarterly 

 interest on the Michaux Legacy due April 1, amounting to 

 $133.07. 



A discussion on the Wooten process then took place, pend- 

 ing which the meeting was adjourned. 



On Meteoric Fireballs seen in the United States during the year ending 

 March 31, 1879.* By Professor Daniel Kirkwood. 



{Read before the American Philosophical Society, May 2, 1879.) 



The following paper does not claim to present a complete listof the fire-balls 

 which have appeared in our entire country during the last twelve months. 

 It includes, however, all that have been brought to the writer's notice. Of 

 those described only three can be certainly classed as detonating meteors, 

 and in no case has an explosion been followed by a fall of meteoric stones ; 

 at least, no aerolites have been actually discovered. 



(1.) 1878, June 3, 2h. 59m., a. m. — This meteor, observed at Chicago, by 

 Prof. E. Colbert, was about ecpual in apparant magnitude to the moon at 

 four days old. Its course was from near the zenith to a point about 4° 

 above Beta Cassiopeia?. Near Alpha Cassiopeia^ it exploded into seven or 

 eight fragments.! 



(2.) 1878, June 6th, 9h. 25m. (local time).— On the evening of June 6, 

 Mr. Geo. H. E. Trouvelot, at Cambridge, Mass., saw a very large meteor 

 which passed directly over Omicrou Ursse Majoris, and disappeared just 

 below Eta in the same constellation. It was pear-shaped, the greatest and 

 least diameters being in the ratio of 4 to 3, and it left behind it a long 

 bright train. About three or four seconds after its appearance it burst into five 



* No. 6 (January 20, 1877) of the fireballs described in my paper read before the 

 A.P.S., March 16, 1877, was found, after the article was in type, to be a news- 

 paper hoax. 



t Letter from Prof. E. Colbert, dated June 3, 1878. See also the Sci. Obs. for 

 July, 1878, p. 3. 



