402 Miscellanies. : 
showers would have been found more abundant after midnight, re- 
mains however unaffected. If we assume the radiant of August 9 
to be in the ecliptic, and 90° West from the sun’s place, it will be 
found to rise about 10h. 40m. P. M. This may account for the fact 
that about that time of the year, meteors have been seen so abun- 
antly before midnight. 
We have now an August meteoric aan in five successive years, 
(1833 to 1837 inclusive,) and there seems to be little risk in pre- 
dicting its recurrence on or about the 9th of next August. For sev- 
eral reasons, and especially on account of our early dawn at that 
season, it is extremely important that persons who live near the 
equator, in all quarters of the globe, should make careful observa- 
tions on this interesting phenomenon. E. C. Herrick. 
New Haven, Dec. 15, 1837. 
7. Brilliant Meteor seen in the day time.—On Saturday, August 
20, 1836, being in the state of Illinois, on the road between Win- 
chester and Jacksonville, and about eight miles southwest from the 
latter place, (which is near N. lat. 39° 45’, and W. long. 89° 40’,) 
a brilliant meteor or globe of fire was seen both by myself and com- 
panion. Its true bearing was about N. 15° E., nearly. Its apparent 
size was about fifteen minutes of a degree; or, the apparent disc was 
about one fourth that of the moon. When first seen it had an alti- 
tude of about 60°; it moved rapidly in a line nearly vertical, and 
became invisible at an altitude of about 40°. It would doubtless 
have been seen at a greater elevation had the eye at first been prop- 
erly directed. The sky at the time was entirely clear, and the sun 
shining bright; it being about four o’clock in the afternoon. The 
meteor left bahas a distinct train of smoke, which appeared like a 
small cloud and was visible for at least fifteen minutes. An explo- 
sion was noticed by several persons in the vicinity, which I failed to 
hear on account of the noise made by the wagon in which I was 
traveling. R. Gayrorp. 
8. A Synopsis of the family of Naiades; by Isaac Lea, Phil- 
adelphia, 1836.—This work deserved a notice at our hands long 
since, but it has been mislaid and overlooked. Mr. Lea’s reputa- 
tion is too well and too extensively known to need any encomium 
from us: his name is identified with American conchology, and no 
student sees the word Unio, without being reminded of our author 
and-his distinguished services. In this synopsis are enumerated 
three hundred and fifty four species, recent and fossil. 
