A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 131 



6. The explosion at Calais. (Extract from a letter to the ' Times,' from 

 H. B. M. Consul at Calais, Beaumont Hotham.) 



Sir, — The information of the explosion of a powder-mill near St. Omer, 

 though transmitted by telegraph from St. Omer to Calais, and though officials 

 here were informed of the " explosion," and the St. Omer fire-engines were 

 actually sent for, turned out to be incorrect. The meteor was of a very ex- 

 traordinary description ; but the powder-mill, at least, was a canard. 



(7.) 1866, July 17th, &" 52'" p.m. (local time), Eidfjord, Norway. 



It was quite light when the meteor appeared, far too light for any stars to 

 be visible, and yet the meteor was ■^^eiy bright. I have no doubt it would 

 have given very much more light than the moon, yet it was only about one- 

 third the apparent diameter of the moon. 



I first saw it at an altitude of perhaps 45° ; and after that it went aboiit 

 50°, increasing in brightness as it went. The latter part of its course was 

 at an angle of 45° downwards to the right. It had a bright tail 5° or 10° 

 long, of a different colour from the head, I think fiery ; it vanished with the 

 head ; but I very soon saw a white train, perhaps 20° long, somewhat ser- 

 pentine, exactly like white smoke, doubtless illuminated by dayhght alone, 

 as I do not think that it was at aU self-luminous. It was consequently very 

 faint to my naked eye. Some of the party saw it before I did, and say that 

 it was simply curved and not serpentine. 



It rapidly became more serpentine, and perhaps two minutes after the 

 disappearance of the meteor was of this shape : — 



It continued to grow more serpentine tiU it disappeared, part of it remain- 

 ing visible twelve minutes. 



I remain, yours truly, 

 Sunderland, Sept. 10th, 1866. T. W. Backhouse. 



To A. S. Herschel, Esq. 



III. Aerolites. 

 (1.) 1860, January 16th. Stonefall at Kusiali, Kumaon, India. 



(2.) 1865, January 19th. StonefaU at Mouza Khoona, Sidowra, Gorruck- 



pore district, India. 



(3.) 1865, August 12th, 7'' p.m. Stonefall at Dimdrum, county of Tipperary, 

 Ireland (Scientific Papers from E. I. Academy's Proceedings, vol. i. p. 230). 

 Meteor not seen. A report like a cannon-shot and buzzing noise was heard, 

 -and the stone fell into the ground, where it lay, half buried in the earth, milk- 



k2 



