Ii6 ROUGH WAYS MADE SMOOTH. 



the family it belongs to, is by noting its path across the sky. 

 If this path tends directly from the constellation Leo (how- 

 ever remote Leo may be from the part of the heavens 

 traversed by the meteor), the chances are that the meteor is 

 a Leonid, or one of the November family. If the path tends 

 from that particular part of the constellation Leo (near the 

 end of the curved blade of the so-called Sickle in Leo), the 

 probability of the meteor being a Leonid is increased. If 

 two or more meteors are seen to-morrow morning (after 12.30) 

 which both tend from the Sickle in Leo, even though 

 they seem to tend in opposite directions, the chances are yet 

 greater that they are travelling in parallel paths along the 

 track of the November meteors, but some 2,000 million miles 

 behind the main body. Should the number mount up to a 

 score or so, the conclusion would be, to all intents and pur- 

 poses, certain ; and the possible occurrence of even a shower 

 of Leonids at a time midway between the customary maxima 

 of the meteoric displays would be placed beyond question. 



We must, however, admit that it seems less likely there 

 will be anything like a display of Leonids to-night than that 

 patient observers may be able to identify a few of these 

 bodies, and thus though by observations of a less attractive 

 kind to advance our knowledge of this interesting system. 

 Far more likely is it that towards the end of the month there 

 will be a display of meteors belonging to another and an 

 entirely distinct family, a family scarcely less worthy to be 

 called November meteors par excellence, but actually rejoic- 

 ing in the classically unsatisfactory name of Andromeds. 



