METEOR OF 1STH OF AUGUST, 1783, AS SEEN FROM WINDSOR. THE TWO LOWER 

 FIGURES REPRESENT IT A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ITS EXPLOSION. 



METEORIC STONES & SHOOTING STARS. 



CHAPTEE I. 



1. Necessity of following out the true spirit of the inductive philosophy in 

 the investigation of physical phenomena. 2. Circumstances attending 

 appearance of meteorites supplied by past observation Ball-lightning 

 Explosive clouds Chladni's catalogue of meteoric stones. 3. Remark- 

 able falls of aerolites. 4. Physical condition and analysis of aerolites. 

 5. Crust of meteorites, their internal mass. 6. Their magnitude and 

 velocity. 7. The different hypotheses or theories proposed to explain 

 them. 8. Luminous appearance explained. 9. Hypothesis of Poissoc. 

 10. Atmospheric origin impossible. 11. Volcanic origin inadmis- 

 sible. 12. Lunar origin rejected. 13. Planetary origin generally 

 admitted. 14. Remarkable appearances of shooting-stars recorded in 

 history. 15. Shower of stars seen in 1788 and 1799. 16. Also in 

 1822 and 1831. 17. Remarkable shower in 1833. 18. Vast number 

 of shooting-stars seen on that occasion. 19. Their magnitude. 



1. WHEN we reflect upon the length of time which has elapsed 

 since just methods of investigating nature were first formally 

 taught by BACON, we cannot fail to be struck with surprise at 

 witnessing the frequency with which these inestimable precepts 

 LAKDNER'S MUSEUM OF SCIENCE. s 129 



