PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 749 



Dashour, which dates back from 3,400 to 3,300 B. C. He found 

 mauy natural and artificial objects of interest perfectly preserved. 

 Besides two sorts of grains — wheat and barley — he met with field- 

 pea and common fl^x ; the latter having in all probability l)een 

 cultivated as an article of food, as well as for spinning. Of the 

 class of common weeds, he discovered wild i*adish, corn, chrysan- 

 themum, wart-worth, nettle-leaved gooscfoot, bearded hare's ear, 

 and the common vetch. The presence of twine and sheep's wool 

 is significant of the advance of civilization at that early period. 

 Chopped straw was found mixed with the burnt clay, which con- 

 firms the account of brick-making during the sojourn of the Israel- 

 ites in Egypt given in Exodus, as well as the description found in 

 Herodotus. Prof, linger proposes to continue his investigations 

 in this direction. 



The November Meteors of 1866. 

 Dr. Phipson, of London, says: "Though mauy thousand per- 

 sons have been fortunate enough to witness the magnificent dis- 

 pla}^, a still greater number were fast asleep in their beds, and, 

 believing that such a sight can only be seen every thirty-three 

 years, regret what they have lost. The latter will be glad to 

 learn that from the observations already collected respecting the 

 late star-shower, it appears more and more probable that, although 

 so fine, it was not the great display so anxiously awaited, and that 

 we may confidently expect another, perhaps more magnificent still, 

 from the 11th to the 14th of November, 1867." On the other 

 hand, Prof. Newton, of Yale College, says: "The brilliant exhi- 

 bition of the November meteors witnessed in Europe on the 14th 

 of that month, is a confirmation (if such confirmation was needed), 

 of the astronomical character of these bodies, and of the thirty- 

 three year cycle," from which we infer a greater display than the 

 last is not to be expected next November." 



The Burning Star. 

 The star first discovered by Mr. Birmingham, of Tuam, on the 

 12th of May last, in the constellation Corona, which rapidly 

 increased in brilliancy for some days, and then as rapidly declined 

 in brightness, has been examined with the spectroscope by W. 

 Huggius, F. R. S., and Prof Miller. They report that its spec- 

 trum is unlike that of any other Celestial body. The light is com- 

 pound, and has emanated from two difterent sources. The princi- 

 pal spectrum is like that of the sun, and the second spectrunij 



