CHAP. 3. OF METEORS. lir, 



observing and noting down accurately the pe- 

 culiarities remarkable in the different kinds of 

 Meteors which from time to time appear. The 

 very large sort, which occasionally are seen ; 

 such, for example, as that memorable Meteor 

 seen on Monday, 18th August, 1783, that which 

 took place on Sunday, 13th November, 1803, 

 or the large one recently observed at Geneva,* 

 are not numerous enough to admit of being 

 arranged under any general description ; besides 

 which, there are peculiarities in all of the 

 larger sort, whereby each differs from every 

 other. But the smaller kind, which appear in 

 common, seem to me to be referable to three 

 principal varieties, which appear to derive their 

 particular character from the kind of weather 

 in which they happen. 



The most common sort are those very small 

 Meteors which are prevalent in clear frosty 



* See Nicholson's Journal, 1811. 



The falling stars have generally been regarded as fore- 

 boders of wind : so Seneca in Hippolyto : 

 " Ocyor cursum rapiente flamma 

 Stella cum ventis agitata longos 



Porrigit ignes.. 



I have noticed this indication of wind particularly from the 

 caudate Meteors still to be described. 



I 2 



