Natural History. 447 
lighter, it would be carried higher by the current, and we may 
admit, without difficulty, that. the aqueous vesicles, or rather 
the mass of air through which they are diffused, may remain 
suspended at a considerable height, variable according to the 
seasons, and greater in summer than in winter.—Ann. de Chim. 
xxi. 59. 
2. Meteors (on their nature.)—From the incertitude at present 
existing with regard to those meteors known by the name of 
falling stars, a considerable value attaches to careful observations 
of the phenomena they present, especially when made by men of 
sound judgment and upon whom reliance can be placed. It has 
happened that twice lately opportunities have occurred in 
France for observation of the train of light left in most cases by 
those meteors, and which though generally of very short dura- 
tion were in these instances of long continuance. 
About eight o’clock in the evening of June 12th, a brilliant 
meteor was seen from Angers and London, which continued 
some seconds; immediately after its disappearance a powerful 
detonation, succeeded by several smaller ones, was heard, and 
a fall of stones took place, one fragment weighing thirty ounces 
fell in a garden at Anger, upon a hard path, so that it pene- 
trated not more than half an inch into the ground; it was taken 
up at the moment, and was not particularly warm. 
This meteor was seen from Poitiers by M. Boisgiraud, who 
calls ita falling star, and compared its appearance to a Roman 
candle. He does not appear to have heard any sound. It left 
a luminous train, straight, small above, but augmenting in dia- 
meter toa spot but little distant from its lower termination. 
This spot was also the most brilliant part, it subtended a sensi- 
ble angle, and continued a long time; the light of the train in 
this part was equal to that of the moon. By degrees, this line of 
light changed its form, and became serpentine, and its intensity 
diminished. In a few minutes it divided into two parts; the 
upper being the larger, and in about ten or twelve minutes after 
their first appearance they had both faded away, with the ex- 
ception of the nucleus or bright spot. Before a telescopic ob- 
servation could however be made, this also had faded away. 
M. Boisgiraud took particular notice of the position of this 
nucleus, with respect to the stars, and notwithstanding it con- 
tinued for a quarter of an hour, found it invariable. The meteor 
appeared in the N.N.E., and the wind blew from the 8.S.W. 
The other meteor was observed at Paris, by MM. Gay-Lussac 
and Berthier. About eight o’clock in the evening of August 6th, 
they suddenly beheld a bright light, and raising their eyes, 
saw a large and beautiful luminous serpentine train of light as 
thick as the wrist, and appearing to be in the vertical plane 
passing by the place where they stood. It extended to within 
