1 90 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



November meteors that is, the Leonides and those 

 which fell on November 27 last, was of the most 

 decided character. The Leonides, regarded as a shower, 

 meet the earth almost full front ; the shower of last 

 November fell from behind. Here I refer to the 

 earth's motion in her orbit. As she circles round the 

 sun she of course always directs her motion towards 

 some point upon that circle in the heavens which 

 marks the sun's seeming yearly journey round the 

 earth ; and in November her course is directed towards 

 the constellation of the Lion. It is from out that 

 constellation so far as appearances are concerned 

 that the Leonides travel to meet her. Were it not for 

 a slight fall from the north, it might be said that they 

 meet her full front ; and their course may be compared 

 to that of a shower borne by a fierce wind, and meeting 

 a person who travels so as directly to face the wind. 

 But the shower of November 27 came from a region of 

 the heavens lying somewhat north of the constellation 

 Aries, which, as every one knows, is a long way from 

 the Lion : the Earn is indeed only separated by the 

 Fishes from the Water-bearer; and on November 27 

 the earth is travelling directly away from a point in 

 the Water-bearer on the side towards the Fishes. So 

 that the shower fell from behind. It came downwards, 

 also, or from the north, with a much greater slant 

 than in the case of the Leonides ; and it fell from the 

 outer side of the earth's track that is, from the side 

 away from the sun.* 



* If a somewhat commonplace illustration (but the aptest which 

 occurs to me) be permitted, I may compare the Leonides to a shower 



