454 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Dec. 



to afford at least a presumption against their abundance at that 

 period. The author anticipates that the Laurentian will yet afford 

 evidence of at least the existence of Algae before the Palaeozoic 

 period. He has prepared for communication to the Geological 

 Society a detailed account of that part of the above succession 

 which relates to the Carboniferous of British America. 



REPORT ON LUMINOUS METEORS. 

 BY JAMES GLAISHER, F.R.S. 



The principal points in this valuable Report were as follows : The 

 number of meteors observed during the past year had been un- 

 usually small, partly owing to the cloudy state of the sky, and 

 partly owing to the absence this year of certain acknowledged star- 

 showers, namely, those of January, April, and August. The No- 

 vember shower, although concealed in England by clouds, was ob- 

 served with considerable interest at Malta. If the sky be clear, 

 the circumstances are altogether favorable for its re-appearance, in 

 the present year and the next, on the morning of the 13th of 

 November. Its greatest display is expected in 1866, but in the pre- 

 sent year it is desirable to be prepared for its appearance. The 

 British Association having printed maps for the use of the Com- 

 mittee (specimens of which were presented with the Report), every 

 means will be provided to members willing to take part in the ob- 

 servations of this shower to enable them to record their observa- 

 tions with facility. A remarkable shower of meteors was observed 

 on the 18th of October, coinciding with a date on which fire-balls 

 have made their appearance in more than average numbers. The 

 radiant point of this shower is perfectly well defined in Orion. 

 Tbere was a less conspicuous star-shower on the 28th of July, with 

 a radiant equally distinct close to Fomalhaut, the most southerly 

 star observed on our meridian. A number of other accurate ob- 

 servations of star showers are included in the Report. Of large me- 

 teors, the greater number took place in December. Two detonating 

 meteors were also observed : the first in England, on the 20th of No- 

 vember; the second in Scotland, on 21st of February. Observa- 

 tions show that, on the first of these nights, shooting stars were 

 extremely scarce, so that, at Weston-super-Mare and Hawkhurst, 

 only one or two meteors could be counted in an hour. This fact 

 illustrates, in a remarkable manner, the adventitious character of 

 large meteors. A third detonating meteor, on the 30th of April, 

 was doubly observed, at Manchester and Weston-super Mare, and 



