‘minutes counted 118. 
NATURE 
me 
2335 
“ Taking a point as above described as visible radiating point, 
the angle of the majority of the meteors was about equal to that 
of the meteors figured in ‘Johnston’s Astronomical Atlas,’ 
seen in November 1866. . 
“A few however, shot with extreme velocity towards the north ; 
these had no trains of light ; other meteors shot parallel to the 
general direction close to the horizon. Although we dis- 
continued our observations at 12°55, the shower was not over, 
and a few meteors were seen near the western horizon after this 
time. 
“Tt must be observed that the point from which our obser- 
vations were taken was obscured by trees in the directions of the 
western horizon. About the time of greatest intensity, nine 
meteors were visible at the same moment. 
“*During the greater part of our observations, up to midnight, 
the radiation of these four or five meteors was nearly syn- 
chronous. 
“*Towards the time of the greatest intensity, one of the ob- 
servers was absent for about fifteen minutes, and it is probable 
that many meteors during this interval escaped observation.” 
(2). Observations by Lieut.-Colonel O’Brien, Inspector-General 
of Police, and Mr. A. Brown.—** At about 10 o'clock last night 
(Noy. 27) our attention was drawn to the number of falling 
stars. Going outside and standing back to back, Mr. A. Brown 
and myself in a short time counted no less than 110, This con- 
tinued till near I1 P.M., when we went out again, and in five 
Some of these meteors were very 
bright, having tails like comets. Their course was generally 
longer than that of the others, and they seemed nearer to the 
earth. The course of the shower was almost invariably from 
north to south, and more meteors were visible towards the 
southern hemisphere than in other quarters.” 
(3). Observations by the Hon. Robert Stein and Mr. A. C. 
Macpherson.—‘‘ On November 27, about 10°15 P.M., on 
looking towards the N.E. we noticed several meteors falling ; 
the Pleiades, Hyades, and Orion being at that time about 45° to 
50° above the horizon. 
** On observing carefully, we found the meteors in great num- 
bers coming from due north very much on a level with the stars 
above mentioned, and rather farther to the north of the Pleiades 
than the distance between the Pleiades and Hyades. 
“* They came not from a point, but as it were along a broad belt 
crossing the sun’s path nearly at right angles, appearing at times 
in the north, but often also at the zenith and towards the 
southern horizon, passing as it were parallel, some from N.E. to 
S.E., some from north to south, and some from N.W. to S. W. 
“The number of meteors was so great, and they appeared so 
irregularly, sometimes towards the north, sometimes overhead, 
sometimes to right or left of the zenith, and sometimes towards 
the southern horizon, that we could not keep count of them ; 
but from 10.15 to 10.30 they appeared to be falling at about the 
rate of one in every second, sometimes singly, and sometimes in 
twos or threes ata time. The more distant ones showed only 
bright luminous points, but the nearer ones every few minutes 
showed trains and sparks like a rocket, varying from 2° or 3° to 
5° or 6° in length, and seldom reaching a length of 10°, 
-*Our view to the S.W. was partly closed, but on changing 
position, so as to get a view of that quarter, I found the meteors 
falling there too; but it appears to me during the short time 
[ looked in that direction, towards eleven o’clock, as if fewer 
were falling there than I had observed to the eastward of south.” 
(4.) Observations by Mr. W. H. Marsh,3 Assistant Colonial 
Secretary.—‘**1 observed the shooting stars at first at 9 o’clock. 
The sky was cloudy, but in spaces that were occasionally left 
clear, the meteors could be seen going from north to south. 
About half an hour later the sky was quite clear. I counted 
100 shooting stars in less than five minutes. With the excep- 
tion of one in Andromeda, which went in an easterly direction, 
they all went to the south. I continued observing till 10.30, 
The meteors were almost entirely confined to the western half of 
the heavens, and by far the greater number was observed in 
Aquarius and in the neighbourhood of Fomalhaut. Most of 
them were very dim and small, but occasionally a bright one 
made its appearance. I observed a very bright one at about 
10°15, which came from the direction of the zenith, and appeared 
to pass right through the Star Achernar.” 
Observations by Capt. Fry.—‘‘ On the evening of November 
27 my attention was drawn towards the heavens by seeing 
an immense number of stars of all magnitudes shooting 
towards the south from Orion, which was at the time 
about 30° above the eastern horizon, in a straight line through 
the zenith to about 40° above the western horizon, below which 
altitude clouds obscured the sky. The greater number seemed 
to move from the southern side of the above described line. 
They were all exceedingly bright, and varied in size from an 
ordinary meteor to z/finitely small. The time was from 9 to 
10.15 P.M., when clouds screened the view. I endeavoured to 
keep count, but could not, owing to the immense number and 
the quickness of their movements. I am an old miariner, and 
have often had opportunities of watching the heavens at night, 
but I never witnessed anything to compare to the sight on the 
night of the above date. On the 28th I made preparations to 
watch for a repetition of the spectacle ; but not having seen more 
than is observed on an ordinary night, say four or five, I gave it 
up, and retired at 11 P.M.” 
Observations by Capt. Gaston, of the Ship ‘‘ Penélope,” from 
Vohemar to Mauritius,—‘*Le Mercredi, 27 Novembre, étant 
par une latitude de 19° 52’ Sud et 50° 25’ longitude Est, le temps 
était magnifique, mais calme. Vers 7h. 3 dusoir une chose rare se 
montra au firmament ; une quantité extraordinaire de météores 
parurent successivement, se formant dans le Nord, allant dans 
leur course vers le Sud-Est. Les uns donnaient une clarté trés 
vive et d’autres ne laissaient qu’une légeére trainée de feu ressem- 
blant a des fusées ; mais tous allaient avec une grande rapidité, 
Ce manége de petits météores dura jusque vers 2 heures du 
matin. 
‘Un autre fait non monis curieux s’etait présenté dans la 
journée, Tous les marins connaissent l’Alcyon (ou hirondelle de 
mer) et tous savent que ces petits oiseaux se tiennent dans les 
eaux du Navire, mais en petite quantité. Nous avons, pour 
ainsi dire, été assaillis par ces oiseaux, les uns voltigeant autour 
du navire et les autres posés sur l’eau assez prés les uns des 
autres, ce qui ressemblait 4 une masse noire.” 
The above observations, with the exception of Capt. Gaston’s, 
were all taken within a circle of three miles in diameter, and at 
altitudes of 700 to 1000 feet. 
There are, as might be expected, some discrepancies in tlie 
accounts given, but it appears to me that the meteors were seen 
in two streams, the one passing through Aries, Pisces, and 
Aquarius, nearly along the Ecliptic, and the other through 
Orion towards Sirius, while others passed through the zenith 
from north to south. 
The radiant point would appear to have been close to the 
stars o and ¢ in the foot of Perseus, near the spot indicated by 
Mr. Newton and Mr. Bruce. Mr. Stein, however, probably 
from his seeing only a part of the sky, thinks there was no 
radiant point. I have not seen him since I received his descrip- 
tion ; but from verbal explanation given by Mr. Bruce and Mr. 
Marsh, and from Capt. Gaston’s account I think the meteors 
shot from the above-mentioned point. Mr. Bruce informs me that 
he observed a meteor pass from Northward close to and parallel 
with e and a Tauri; and Mr. Marsh mentions that he saw one 
pass from near the zenith right over Fomalhaut. 
I think there must be some mistake in the statement that 
many meteors shot from Orion through the zenith to the meteor 
horizon, 
With regard to the time of maximum intensity it must have 
been at 11, or soon after. 
The shower was evidently not equal in splendour to that of 
November 14, 1866. 
Watch was kept up during the night of the 28th to 29th, 
but the few meteors seen did not radiate from any point. 
The number of the meteors seen from the 12th to the 15th 
was not greater than on ordinary nights. 
On referring to Quetelet’s Catalogue, I find mention of only 
three showers seen about November 27, one on November 25, 
(16th Jul. Cal.) 1602, a second on November 25, 1822, anda 
third on November 29, 1850. 
While on the subject of meteors, I beg to send an account of 
an extraordinary one seen here by the Rey. Mr. Wright on the 
night of November 7 last. [See this week’s Correspondence. ] 
Mr. Wright’s description, in several respects, applies to the 
moon, which was at the end of her first quarter, and in the 
part of the heavens indicated. Has any similar meteor been 
seen in former times? It was totally different in form and 
appearance from the great meteor of Nov. 27, 1862. 
C. MELDRUM 
Mauritius, Dec. 12, 1872 4 
