CATALOGUE OF METEORITES AND FIREBALLS. 119 



REMARKS. 



1. While there appear to be eight yearly maximum and minimum aerolitic 

 periods for the years generally, there are likewise some indications of other 

 periods for some of the months taken separately. 



Some months may have major or longer periods of maximum, as Novem- 

 ber, which perhaps has one of about 70 years (though for the sporadic 

 showers, according to Herrick, one of 33 years, in which case the numbers 

 of shooting stars should now be again on the increase, so as to culminate in 

 1 866). January has also probably a long or irregular period, as regards 

 classes A and B. Of late years the numbers for December and January 

 have evidently been on the increase, and especially as regards the former 

 month, and this as regards all classes ; and the eighth to the seventeenth days 

 appears to embrace a time favourable to a considerable increase over the 

 average for the month. Tables I., II., III., and IV. 



2. The proportionate numbers of each class appear to have varied at dif- 

 ferent times for the different months. Table VIII. 



3. There appear to be aerolitic and meteor epochs both distinct from and 

 common to each other. A proximate attempt has been made to show some 

 of these in Table V. ; perhaps some of these are more apparent than real ; 

 but the subject is worth consideration. 



4. While the aerolitic class, A and B, in its total is under the average for 

 August, which is the principal and most constant month for an abundance of 

 sporadic meteors, it is over the average for November, likewise a month 

 noted for an abundant display of meteors and shooting stars ; and while there 

 is an increase over the average of detonating meteors (though not of recorded 

 Stone-falls), from the 9th to the 13th of November, i. e. precisely during the 

 regular periodical appearance, it is not a little singular that the August aero- 

 litic period, if it may be so called, precedes by several days the usual period 

 of greatest abundance of the shooting stars ; one being August 4 to 7, both 

 inclusive, and the other August 9 to 12. See Table III. 



5. The decided preponderance of aerolitic phenomena, alluded to in the 

 Report as occurring in the afternoon, as compared with the forenoon, will 

 be seen clearly given in Table IX. 



6. As regards the observed direction of aerolitic and first-class meteors, 

 there would seem not to be any very great tendency one way or the other ; 

 it would have been natural to have expected a much more decided leaning to 

 a Westerly direction. The sudden change from an Easterly direction in Sep- 

 tember and October (about the time of the autumnal equinox), to a Westerly 

 direction in November, is remarkable, and calls for especial notice. 



7. The considerable increase of aerolitic falls and meteors for the months 

 of June and July over those of December and January has been previously 

 alluded to in the Report itself. That more detonating meteors in proportion 

 to Stone-falls should be recorded during the winter months than during the 

 summer months, is precisely what might have been expected, and the reverse 

 holds equally good. Tables VI. and VII. 



8. Taking the entire year, there is a much greater tendency towards equality 

 of distribution in the aerolitic class than is the case with sporadic shooting stars 

 and the smaller meteors; indeed, were it not for the excess in November (an 

 excess common to every class apparently), the numbers of the former (A and 

 B) would be about equal for the first as for the second half of the year. 



