

158 On the Meteors ofl3th November, 1833. 



ved eastward with a very perceptible progress, equal to that of an or- 

 dinary cloud a mile high, carried by a breeze of 10 miles per hour. 

 But in order to move with such an apparent angular velocity at the 

 height of 30 miles, it must have had a real motion of 300 miles per 

 hour. The improbability of either o( these suppositions, would lead 

 us to believe, that the place of explosion where the trains were form- 

 ed, was comparatively near to the earth. 



This conclusion is much strengthened by several other considera- 

 tions. It was the general impression of spectators, that the meteors 

 descended almost to the earth. In this they were doubtless under a 

 mistake, but still the impression is hardly compatible with the suppo- 

 sition, that those bodies were, at the time of their extinction, very 

 high in the atmosphere. Those observers who were on the water, 

 would not be so likely to be deceived in this respect, as those on land ; 

 and such, in various instances, testify that they appeared " to come 

 quite down to the water's edge, to reach the tops of the masts," and 

 even " to fall into the water."* 



Again, the improbability that the same train, resulting from the de- 

 struction of a large meteor, was seen by observers remote from each 

 other, is increased by the fact that trains, which must have been diff- 

 erent, greatly resembled one another. Thus the one described by 

 Dr. Hildreth, in a preceding article, (See p. 87,) resembles that 

 mentioned by myself before referred to, almost or quite as much as 

 the one described by Mr. Tomlinson. It was seen at about the 

 same time of day, (twenty minutes before six,) had nearly the same 

 course, exploded near the same place, and left a serpentine train. 

 Yet these three descriptions cannot possibly refer to one and the 

 same body. Indeed the tortuous figure which the trains successive* 

 ly assumed, is very characteristic of the trains of falling stars, and is 

 even recognized in the history of Chinese meteors. (See p. 133.) 

 This peculiar change of figure may be conceived to arise from the 

 action of the wind., The train being left at first in the path of the 

 meteor, is of course straight ; but the oblique action of the wind 

 would soon change its form, and may easily be imagined to give it 

 the wavy outline exhibited. Moreover the trains, accordii 

 testimony of various observers, were largest in the center and taper- 

 ed towards either extremity. This appearance would result from 

 the manner in which the combustion or destruction of the meteor 



# See Mr. Schoolcraft's letter p. 139, and the last No. of this Journal, p. 392. 



