A REGENT STAR SHOWER. 197 



belonged to Biela's comet, but those which came from 

 the most practised observers. To show that I am not 

 exaggerating the value of the evidence on this point, I 

 quote the account received from Professor Grant, of 

 the Glasgow Observatory. Professor Grant is not only 

 known as a most skilful astronomer and mathematician, 

 but he has also paid special attention to meteoric phe- 

 nomena. I give the whole account, partly because 

 of its general interest, and partly because it gives 

 weight to the determination of the radiant point. ' At 

 5.35,' says the account, ' when a series of observations 

 were commenced by Professor Grant and his assistants 

 at the Observatory, only forty meteors were seen to 

 fall within five minutes. The number gradually in- 

 creased, the maximum being attained at a quarter past 

 eight, when 366 were counted by one observer in five 

 minutes. As the region of observation of any one 

 person was necessarily limited, we may assume that the 

 whole number actually visible in the heavens was much 

 greater, and that it would not be less than 1,600 within 

 the time specified. From 8.15 onwards the meteoric 

 shower gradually lessened, until at 10.10 only fifty 

 shooting-stars were counted in five minutes. The 

 radiant point was a little above the star Gamma 

 Andromedse. At times three or four meteors darted at 

 once across the sky, like a shower of serpents, some of 

 them leaving behind masses of light of a pale red 

 colour.' Again, Mr. E. .J. Lowe, of the Highfield 

 House Observatory, Nottingham, telegraphed as follows 

 on Wednesday night : 6 From ten minutes to six to the 



