nator, 
x THE STARRY HEAVENS 409 
The past history of the Leonids, which Le 
Verrier has traced out with great probability, 
if not proved, is very interesting. They did 
not, he considers, approach the Sun until 
126 a.p., when, in their career through the 
heavens, they chanced to come near to Uranus. 
But for the influence of that planet they 
would have passed round the Sun, and then 
departed again for ever. By his attraction, 
however, their course was altered, and they 
will now continue to revolve round the 
Sun. 
There is a remarkable connection between 
star showers and comets, which, however, is 
not yet thoroughly understood. Several star 
showers follow paths which are also those of 
comets, and the conclusion appears almost 
irresistible that these comets are made up of 
Shooting Stars. 
We are told, indeed, that 150,000,000 of 
meteors, including only those visible with a 
moderate telescope, fall on the earth annually. 
At any rate, there can be no doubt that 
every year millions of them are captured by 
the earth, thus constituting an appreciable, 
