1868. ] Astronomy. 213 
whole heavens.” The hour of observation was from 5h. 20m. to 
6h. 15m. a.m., local time, or 9h. 25m. to 10h. 20m. Greenwich 
time. A little consideration will show that the radiant point in 
Leo was near the zenith during the whole of this interval, so that 
all the shooting-stars would seem to be falling perpendicularly. 
Commander Chimmo adds that at Trinidad, from 2 a.m. to 
daylight, 1,600 meteors were counted, only 693 of which fell 
before 5h. 30m. a.m. Some were reddish, others green, and one 
of a bright fiery purple, lasting many seconds. 
Considering that during the whole time of the display the full 
moon obliterated all save the largest meteors, we are forced to 
conclude that the earth passed through a very rich stratum of 
meteors at about half-past nine on the morning of November 14th, 
1867. Also it is very noteworthy that the accounts above referred 
to, are such as to leave no doubt that the real beginning and end 
of the shower were witnessed by the observers. ‘This was not the 
case in England, in November, 1866. ‘The shower in 1867 did 
not last more than five hours, whereas in 1866 it lasted at least six 
hours (counting from the earliest reported observation, made at 
Kishnagur, near Calcutta). The shower was heavy for but one 
hour. As the earth was traversing the thickness of the meteor-bed 
at the rate of 18,000 miles per hour, it follows that the total 
thickness was 90,000 miles, as against upwards of 108,000 miles 
in 1866; and that a stratum of about 20,000 miles in thickness 
was richly strewn with meteors. If we remember that the part 
traversed in 1866 was removed more than 500 millions of miles in 
November, 1867, and that there is every reason for supposing the 
meteor-band to be continuous, though varying in density (the 
variation being probably uniform, not abrupt), we shall be able to 
form a conception of the extent and importance of the November 
meteor-system. 
Astronomers continue to be divided in opinion respecting the 
reputed change in the lunar crater Linné. Many hold that the 
apparent alterations are merely optical. On the other hand, Mr. 
Buckingham reports that the small crater which he was the first 
to notice, and which appeared as a small hill on the western border 
in December, 1866, and as a crater in January, 1867, has in every 
succeeding month approached nearer to the centre of Linné, in- 
creasing also in magnitude. As it is well known that the central 
cone of Vesuvius frequently shifts its position, Mr. Buckingham’s 
observation seems to confirm the views of those who consider that 
Linné during the past seventeen months has been in a state of 
active eruption. Mr. Buckingham states that the change of place 
is at least a second and a half, corresponding to a distance of about 
a mile and a half. 
M. Hoek remarks in the ‘ Astronomische Nachrichten’ that 
