Miscellaneous Intelligence. 143 
very elongated elliptic annular nebule where the minor axis is some- 
times almost evanescent, shew us pretty clearly the nature of the slight, 
confused streakiness we have observed in several of the nebula. This, 
however unsatisfactory it may appear, is the best explanation our work- 
prematurely, in anticipation of more numerous sketches and measure- 
ments, which will probably throw additional light on the subject, ven- 
tured to lay before the Association the very little which is at present 
known to us. It was in the spring of 1846 that we first perceived the 
ced there is no optical illusion. Last season my attention-was directed 
by Mr. Stoney to Orionis, which is on the edge of a dark spot ; the 
dark spot includes the companion, and is about 12” diameter; we have 
not yet had an opportunity of examining it with the great instrument. 
few copies from our collection of sketches accompany this notice ; they 
scale to make them more suitable for exhibition in the Section. In 
sketching we employ solely the black lead pencil, black representing 
light, and the eye by habit makes transposition without effo 
copies are not quite accurate, but they are sufficiently exact for the 
ur 
e. 
2. A Model of the Moon's surface—Mr. Blunt exhibited a model of 
part of the moon’s surface, at the recent session of the British Associ- 
ation. It represented the moon as it appeared through a Newtonian 
telescope of 7 ft. focus and 9 in. aperture, under a magnifying power 
% 250. 
V. MiscELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 
1. Meteorite in North Carolina.—On the authority of a communi- 
cation from J. H. Gibbon, Esq., of the Branch Mint of the United States 
at Charlotte, North Carolina, we give a condensed view of facts re- 
garding a fall of meteoric masses in that state, not having room for the 
less important details. ; 
On Wednesday, the 3lst of October, 1849, at 8 o’clock, p.m., several 
Persons in the town of Charlotte were astonished, and not a ew were 
exceedingly terrified, by a sudden explosion, followed at short intervals 
by two other reports, and by a rumbling in the air to the east and south. 
