On the Meteors of 1 3th November, 1 833. 1 69 



ticular like that, and not extending along the Zodiac, but having its 

 apex in a vertical circle, near Alpha Pegasi. Ridges of dark clouds, 

 (cumulo stratus,) with intervals of clear sky, contributed to heighten 

 the effect by contrast; and higher than these, was a thin vapor that 

 became visible as it crossed Jupiter, which was near the meridian, be- 

 ing illuminated in a circular space around the planet. The vapor 

 was so thin as hardly to diminish the light of Jupiter." The same ap- 

 pearance continued to present itself for several evenings, although in a 

 manner less striking, until the presence of the moon prevented its be- 

 ing seen. After the moon light was withdrawn, it was seen again. 

 I had the pleasure of pointing it out to several members of the Con- 

 necticut Academy on the evening of their meeting, the 28th of Janu- 

 ary. The following minutes are from my Note Book. 



Feb. 3d. "The occidental aurora has been very conspicuous for 

 the last two evenings, remaining until about 9 o'clock. Although it 

 did not resemble the zodiacal light on the 29th of Dec, being then 

 much more diffused over the southern and western sky, than is usual 

 with that phenomenon, and extending much farther to the east, yet it 

 has ever since appeared to extend along the zodiac, and to resemble 

 that light in other respects. A faint halo about the brighter stars has 

 been noticed of late by many persons." 



The return of the moon prevented observations in the west until 

 near the close of the month, and it never occurred to me to look for 

 it in the east before the morning dawn, having, at that time, no cor- 

 rect ideas of the nature of its connexion with the meteors, nor of its 

 importance to the theory of which it is now believed to afford a stri- 

 king confirmation. Nor after the full moon, which occurred on Feb. 

 23d, did the light attract my attention again until the 8th of March, 

 when I entered the following memorandum in my Journal. " This 

 evening, the sky having been thoroughly cleared by a copious show- 

 er of rain, the luminous cone or lens, reached nearly to the Pleiades, 

 through about 60 degrees of longitude, and was visible until nearly 9 

 o'clock." The return of the New Moon on the 10th, interrupted my 

 observations ; but on the 26th, a short interval was afforded me be- 

 tweenthe end of twilight and the rising of the moon, during which 

 the same light again presented itself. On the 27th, 29th and 30tb, 

 it has been observed by myself, and a number of my friends. The 

 last evening (the 30th) it reached in a direct line from the sun between 

 the Pleiades on the west, and Aldebaran on the east, having its apex 

 a little to the west of the latter, and making an angle with the eclip- 



Vol, XXVI.— No. 1. 22 



