CHAPTER XXVII. 



METEORS. 



Strange theories regarding them. Sir Wm. Thomson's. Seed bearing 

 Meteors. Prof. Newton on November Meteors. No orbit of 

 Meteors. Meteors caused by pressure and reciprocation. Dr. Sorby 

 the microscopist on Meteors. Prof. Graham on the Leonarto Meteor. 

 The great November showers caused by a Comet. The yearly and 

 ordinary Meteors caused by pressure. 



FOR a long time no attention whatever was given to the 

 study of meteors, but lately there has arisen a great interest in 

 their movements ; and, as usual, the most extravagant theories 

 are promulgated regarding them. Some physicists say they are 

 fragments of broken worlds travelling through space ; others 

 that they are ejected from the sun and mQon ; and others that 

 they fill all space and rush toward our sun, where they act aa 

 fuel to keep the fires burning. But the most extraordinary one 

 of all, is that theory, before referred to, suggested by Sir Wm. 

 Thomson, that meteors are seed bearing. 



The following are a few of the facts concerning them. 



While meteors and shooting stars may be aeen nearly every 

 clear evening, there are particular seasons when they are more 

 numerous than usual. On the 9th and 10th of August, or the 

 14th of November, there are often to be seen magnificent dis- 

 plays. This fact has led some astronomers to suggest, that there 

 must be a ring, or several rings of meteorites which travel round 



