23 
of reference or other means of determining the numerous species, many of 
which require careful microscopic study on account of their minuteness. He 
then gave an outline of the classification of fungi and a description, illustrated 
by admirable figures on the black board, of the structure and fructification of 
several species, selecting such as might be easily found in the neighborhood. 
Dr. R. J. Wicksteed, B.C.L., L.L.D., then read an interesting paper on 
“The Chaudiere Gold Fields,” in the Province of Quebec, in which the geological 
formation of the district was fully discussed, and illustrated by the aid of maps. 
The various methods of working and extracting the gold were then considered, 
and models of several of the machines used were shown, as also nuggets of gold 
from the mines, and packets of unsifted dust, in which could be seen specks of 
the precious metal, 
FOURTH SOIREE. 
TuxEspAy, January 18th, 1881.—“ Mergors anD Mrreorites.”—Mr. H. B. SMALL. 
* * * * * % * * ¥* * 
The phenomenon of shooting or falling stars, or meteors as they are more 
generally styled, is now acknowledged to have existed since the formation ef the 
solar system, long anterior to the existence uf man. On any clear evening it is 
estimated a watchful] observer may see on an average two shooting stars every 
five minutes, and at certain periods of the year in such abundance as to have 
obtained the name of meteoric showers. These apparently emanate from 
some constellation or from a point of space known as a radiant, represented by 
a certain constellation, whilst single meteors appear to come from no parti- 
eular point, but move in all directions and from every part of the sky. These 
are styled sporadic. In their normal condition these wandering bodies before 
they reach our vision are known as meteoroids, and in their own proper orbit 
are never visible from the earth. They are then regular circumsolar bodies 
obeying the laws of motion and gravitation as rigidly as the planets. Striking 
or rather entering our atmosphere at a speed of forty-eight miles per second, they 
at once become self-luminous from the heat engendered by friction with the 
atmospheric medium, and the arrested motion producing a sudden compression 
of the air. To illustrate this] may mention that there is a little instrument 
ealled an air match, consisting of a piston and a cylinder, somewhat like a 
syringe, in which a light can be struck by suddenly forcing down the piston upon 
the air below in the cylinder. As the air cannot eseape it is suddenly compressed 
-and gives cut a spark sufficient to ignite a piece of tinder at the bottom of the 
eylinder. Some idea from thismay be formed of the heat evolved by the motion 
of a large body in the atmosphere with the velocity of a meteor. A combustible 
body under such circumstances would be speedily ignited, but could not burn 
freely till reaching air of greater density; thus on entering the lower portion of 
the atmosphere it would burn with great rapidity and according to its distance 
