A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. -133 
decrease at all for a considerable distance ; and even then by no means in 
proportion to the law of perspective. 
This subject appears to be one eminently deserving of more full and 
precise investigation, whether in a meteorological or an optical point of 
view. 
IV. Prof. Lawrence Smith’s paper is, however, mainly devoted to other 
points of not less importance respecting the nature and theory of meteors, and 
especially of those which fall either wholly or in portions, producing meteoric 
stones- 
He gives a minute account of five specimens found in America, accom- 
panied by chemical analyses, from which it appears that they all contain the 
mineral called Schreibersite, not known asa natural compound on the earth. 
He enters largely on theoretical views, and in the course of these specula- 
tions examines various hypotheses which have been put forth, and eventually 
endeavours to revive the theory of the origin of these bodies from the lunar 
volcanoes supposed at some remote period to have been in a state of activity. 
Without discussing such a question, which will perhaps be generally viewed 
with suspicion at the present day, and passing to the general subject of 
_ shooting stars, which the author is inclined to distinguish entirely from those 
‘masses which have fallen to the earth, we may notice the apparently favour- 
able mention he makes of the general admission of the cosmical nature of the 
former, and of that view of their nature which regards them as nebulous 
masses revolving in our system. 
It has been further supposed that such masses, being in a high state of 
electric tension, on approaching the earth, a discharge might take place by 
which their metallic elements might be reduced: dependent on the size of 
the nebulous mass, the force of the discharge, the consequent intensity of 
the fusion, and other conditions, larger or smaller metallic or earthy masses 
might be precipitated, and might fall entire or shattered into fragments. 
The author, however, considers these latter effects as incompatible with the 
conditions of observed meteorites. 
But probably, on the whole, all such speculations are as yet premature. 
_ We must obtain a larger amount of data and better classification of observa- 
a a i i 
tions before we can hope to follow out such inferences successfully. 
For the details of Prof. L. Smith’s paper see Appendix No. 5. 
V. In some of the earlier of this series of Reports, reference was made to 
_ the theory proposed by Sir J. Lubbock, of meteors shining by reflected light 
and being simply darkened by entering the earth’s shadow, and to some ob- 
servations of meteors which coincided with it. It is much to be regretted 
that other observations of a kind capable of such application have not been 
more frequent. One remarkable instance observed by Capt. Jacob, at 
Bombay, was considered some years ago by Prof. C. P. Smyth, and a com- 
munication on the subject made by him to the Royal Society of Edinburgh 
(1849), of which a short notice in the Proceedings of that body is the only 
remaining record—the details having unfortunately not been preserved. 
The results, however. are stated to accord exactly with the theory. 
_ The essential parts of the notice are given in Appendix No. 6. 
VI. Of the August meteors for the present year, the only notice which 
has reached me has been an account published by Dr. T. Forster, of . 
Brussels, in the Zimes. He observed great numbers, some of them pres 
senting unusual appearances, especially in regard to colour. 
His letter is given in Appendix No. 7. 
