26 Shooting Stars. 
whether we can pass any judgment upon the nature of. the 
shooting star. Indeed, the observation of the before men- 
tioned North American meteor, appears to be not without 
some doubt, as to its accuracy ; and it might be still a sub- 
ject of inquiry, poner the product of a fiery meteor could 
Our knowledge of shooting stars is very much extended by 
the valuable researches of Professor Brandes of Breslau ; 
but what concerns the nature of their substance, appears to 
me to be, as yet, dark and undiscovered ; at least according 
to my views, the gelatinous masses which are found in mead- 
ows, should by no means be-considered as the product of 
apparently exist between the results of the observations of 
Messrs. Buchner and Schwabe, and my ownstatement. The 
care with which they have drawn up both their descriptions, 
allows us to compare them with sufficient exactness, 
Both the substances examined by these gentlemen, as I 
have already suggested, exhibit different properties, which 
are sufficiently essential to make us look for a different ori- 
g stars.» 5 SD 
It now remains for me to consider the differences which 
mella. As respects Buchner’s mass, it accords exactly with 
the specimens which 1 examined. The chemical composi- 
. 
product. But if we consider the appearance of the 
ne places where the pellicle was broken, through which 
the jelly protruded, and all appearance of organic structure 
