146 REPORT—1857. 
observes one peculiarity as deserving of notice :—viz. that the number and 
constancy of the same tints in the observations of one period or dynasty 
differ from those whether in the preceding or succeeding period. The same, 
he says, holds good with respect to the colours observed when meteors 
explode, whether breaking up into fragments or not. 
In making his inferences from the titles of observations in China as well 
as of those in England and Paris, the author excludes those cases where the 
body of the meteor and its train exhibit complementary tints, like some of 
the double stars: this relation of tints he also finds in many cases of meteors 
which break up into fragments as compared with the original colour; andin 
meteors simultaneously accompanied by others, as well as in the coloured 
light sometimes projected by them on the earth. He also observes that the 
colour often changes in the course of a meteor through the atmosphere, 
from white near the zenith to blue near the horizon. He also excludes from 
his comparisons those meteors which have trains of the same colour with the 
body. 
Colours of meteors observed in England from 1841 to 1855 (including 
some in other parts of the world). 
Nee g|_l8lé 
Colour. Plaiial|. 2a lof |e lene 
SE Hee Oita eet las ris lg) | oe |e 2 aaa 
a | 38 a a | 3 Ee lS Ss ee) ° o = 
Sle lal@tzalesilalAl|/alalol|alal = 
FREDY des esgetveatnas 5 6 Bul 4th She Sha) | Sho) 14s) Lat 2On ia eeoe 
Reddish ....ceee+++- WL Ao 05) Oe 10S eG) 03) 4k ee ee 
Orange ....+++ wees OV 2 S| Le OL kL ea SL | TGF | UG scam ee 
Orange-red_ ...... De Lerten) 1 TO OD od COE ey a eB eee ra os eer 
Yellow ..cscsecceee re tae ee | 2) 5). 5 | 23 | 39 | 33] 16) 14) 3] U5 
Yellowish ........- Ofer kal de Out Dl eOe |. On) Gat ong ih Bit eee aa eee 
GYCEN. concsscacsseee Cet en OleOle te te Os OO (Or Caine 5 
Greenish Oo La ses nO On arU atone re OctevE™ ern) © Ort tenke 4 
Bluctedddeteceak es 3 ° 6} 3|17| 2) 4 81 |138 | 56 | 36} 26) 4 | 326 
Bluish Oy) O[ Osh Lipo Rend (4 je2B Oo beauty Bn) OR eaete 
Whitish blue...... Ode Dj Qs yOu) 234 Sa). Te OR Cee roe ee 
WHIT  ccccnceesese 1 3 6| 6 7| 2/11 | 45 | 34 | 26) 15} 2) 158 
VIGGEN ss cnncesaes OST One Octe Onl, Gish Oster Tit on, Te seal hoot ne 7 
Diamond ......... OF OPPO OMS HOF JOS) h Hae Baths 5 OR ES 6 
Uncoloured ...... Sy Oe Ova Ma MIO Ol) obey Ob pO ie Meares 
NOt agalinsaculsansas|<ccadeelaass ealaes pelian tuxalaneae de'ega| a cicepafancnna| sue cme emai 1040 
Besides the coloured shooting stars and globes indicated in the above table, 
there are also the following :—reddish white, 3 cases in April, June, and 
August ; orange-yellow, 2 cases in September and December ; slightly orange 
tinged with white, 1 case in June; yellowish red, 1 case in December; 
greenish white, 2 cases in November and December ; greenish blue, 1 case 
in December; purple and green, 1 case in May; reddish blue, 2 cases in 
April and November ; violet, 1 case in February; pale rose-coloured, 1 case 
in November ; purple, 2 cases in August and November ; yellow and violet, 
1 case in September ; orange and prismatic, 1 case in November ; coloured, 
2 cases in January and November; dull-coloured, 1 case in September ; 
brown, 1 case in September ; yellowish white, 1 case in July ; brilliant white 
tinged with brown and silver, 1 case in August. Total 1065 coloured shoot- 
ing stars and globes principally observed in England from 1840 to 1855. 
We see in the above table that the simple or primitive colours most 
