166 THE WORLD. 



than Upon any other. Two other periods of unusual brilliancy 

 seem to have been pretty well determined, viz : April 21st, and 

 Aug. 10th. It is our opinion that these meteors, and the zodiacal 

 light, are both of terrestrial origin, L e. have their origin within 

 the limits of our atmosphere. The greatest height at which these 

 bodies occur is supposed to be about 2300 miles : at this height 

 the atmosphere would be excessively rare, but it is probable that 

 the upper strata are composed of more inflammable materials 

 than common air ; hydrogen gas is continually being emitted by 

 the great laboratory of nature, and ascends to the upper regions, 

 here, when released from pressure it may expand to at least the 

 distance, (and beyond it), where meteors occur. Sir John Les- 

 lie thus accounts for the lambent glow of the heavens in a clear 

 night, supposing this stratum of highly inflammable gas to be 

 phosporescent. We might perhaps trace the zodiacal light to the 

 same source. This remarkable appearance is most conspicuous 



in the finer climates and near the vernal equinox, and has offpn 

 been ascribed to thp extension of a supposed luminous atmos- 



