294 



'he Hereford Times. I am happy to add that we have now a prospect of 

 aost efficient aid in this branch of observation, the Rev. A. 0. Key, of 

 itretton, having turned his attention to the subject. 



With respect to the weather generally during the year 1866, I am not 

 aware that there was anything observed at Hereford worthy of very particular 

 notice. Mr. Cooke has drawn attention, in some notes sent to me, to the 

 mUdness of January and February, and states that a thunderstorm occurred 

 on February 4th. He notices "severe frosts" at the commencement of 

 March, and a storm of thunder and lightning on the 18th. May, according 

 to these notes, was a cold ungenial month, but a very dry one. In June two 

 heavy thunderstorms occurred, one on the 1st the other on the 4th. July was 

 dry and hot ; the highest temperature in the shade being, according to the 

 table, 85.3. In some places, where the thermometer stands were fully exposed 

 to the sun's rays, the mercury rose still higher. Some heavy rain occurred in 

 August : on the 8th more than half an inch fell in thirty minutes. September 

 was a very wet month. 



There were 229 fine days during the year and 136 wet. 



The great event of the year, interesting alike to the meteorologist and 

 astronomer, was the grand display of meteors on the night of November 

 13th-14th. The wind blew in strong squalls at intervals, and clouds, with 

 showers occasionally, caused a partial obstruction of the heavens ; but the sight 

 was exceedingly magnificent. From the constellation Leo, as a centre, bril- 

 liant rocket-shaped meteors shot out in every direction, and from 1 a.m. until 

 1.30 the heavens presented a most extraordinary spectacle. Instead, however, 

 of attempting to describe the scene, I shall conclude this paper with a few 

 remarks gathered from more experienced observers and abler writers. " At 

 1.12 a.m.," says Mr. Symons, "they (i.e. the meteors) averaged quite 100 per 

 minute. At this time, the constellation Leo, whence almost aU the meteors 

 radiated, was well out of the mist in the horizon, and was dotted with balls of 

 light, with tails so foreshortened that they seemed but elongations of the head, 

 while around, as from a fiery crown, meteors mostly more brilliant than Sirius 

 (which was shining in the west) darted north, south, and west, their bodies 

 mostly white, as the ball of lime in an oxy -hydrogen lamp, their tails always 

 brightest in the middle of the track, and generally invisible close to the head. 

 Several remained visible long enough for the telescope to be turned to them, 

 and careful remarks made on their apparent structure ; usually they were 

 much wider in the middle than elsewhere, and on two occasions were observed 

 to bend before they faded from sight ; it looked as if they were heavier in the 

 centre, or as if a gust of wind had swept across their track. Most of the trains 

 were tinged with green, but purple and other tints were by no means absent, 

 the resultant beauty, when (as was often the case) two or three differently 

 tinged trains were visible in close proximity, was extreme." — Meteorological 

 Magazine for December. Mr, Symons estimates "the total number visible at 



