NOTES. Cll 



(*) p. 421. Kosmos, Bd. i. S. 137, 142, and 407, Anm. 55; Engl. ed. 

 p. 122, 126127, and xxxii. Note 90. 



(^ p. 422. See the opinions of the Greeks on the fall of meteoric stones, 

 in Kosmos, Bd. i. S. 138, 139, 395, 397, 401, 402, 407, Anm. 31, 32, 39, 

 5759 ; Bd. ii. S. 501, Anm. 27 : Engl. ed. Vol. i. p. 123, 124, xxi. xxii. 

 xxiii. xxvii. and xxxi. xxxii. Notes 61, 62, 69, and 8789 ; Vol. ii. p. cvii. 

 Note 467. 



O p. 422. Brandis, Gesch. der Griechisch-Rom. Philosophic, Th. i. S. 

 272 277, against Schleiermacher, in the Abhandl. der Berl. Akad. aus den 

 J. 18041811 (Berl. 1815), S. 79124. 



(^ p. 423. If Stobams in the same passage (Eel. phys. p. 508) makes 

 Diogenes of Apollonia call the stars " bodies of a substance resembling 

 pumice-stone" (porous stones, therefore), this description may have been 

 favoured by the very prevalent idea in antiquity, that all celestial bodies were 

 fed by humid exhalations. The Sun " gives back that which he has sucked 

 up" (Aristot. Meteorol. ed. Ideler, T. i. p. 509; Seneca, Nat. Qusest. iv. 2). 

 The " pumice-like bodies" seen as shooting stars were also supposed to have 

 their own exhalations. " These bodies, which cannot be seen so long as they 

 wander about in space, are stones which kindle and then become extinguished, 

 when they fall to the earth" (Plat, de plac. Philcs. ii. 13). Pliny (ii. 59) 

 believed that many meteoric stones fall " decidere tamen crebro, non erit 

 dubium :" he also knew that their fall, while the air is clear, is accompanied 

 by a loud noise (ii. 43). The seemingly analogous passage of Seneca, in which 

 he names Anaximenes (Nat. Qusest. lib. ii. 17), refers probably to the thunder 

 from a storm-cloud. 



(*) p. 423. The remarkable passage in Plut. Lys. cap. 12, translated 

 closely, is as follows : " It is a probable opinion which was held by those 

 who said that, shooting stars are not emanations or overflowings from the 

 ffithereal fire, which become extinguished in the air immediately after being 

 kindled ; neither are they produced by ignition and combustion of a quantity 

 of air which has detached itself towards the higher regions ; but rather they 

 are heavenly bodies which fall or are cast down in consequence of an inter- 

 mission, or irregularity, of the force of rotation, and are precipitated not only 

 on inhabited countries, but also, and in greater numbers, beyond these, into 

 the great sea, so that they remain concealed." 



t 685 ) p. 423. On absolute dark bodies, or bodies in which the luminous 

 process ceases (periodically ?) ; on the opinions of modern authorities (Laplace 

 and Bessel) ; and on Bessel's observation, confirmed bv Peters at Kouiga- 



