58 repokt — 1865. 



presented with this Eeport, every means will he provided to Members of the 

 Association willing to take part in the observations of this shower, to enable 

 them to record their observations with facility, and to reduce as far as pos- 

 sible the inevitable uncertainty of cloudy nights, which attaches to our in- 

 sular climate in November. 



A shower of remarkable meteors observed on the 18th of October last 

 (of which a map, showing the radiant-point, was exhibited), coincided with a 

 date at which fireballs have made their appearance in more than average 

 numbers. The radiant-point of this shower was perfectly denned in Orion, and 

 illustrates well the manner in which these maps may be employed. A star- 

 shower less conspicuous, on the 28th of July last, was observed with a radiant- 

 point equally distinct, close to Fomalhaut, the most southerly star observed 

 on our meridian. These and other accurate observations of star-showers are 

 included in the Eeport. Continued observation will doubtless reveal other 

 radiant-points, and at the same time will lead to determining more exactly 

 the position and character of those already known. 



Of large meteors, the greater number described in the Catalogue took place 

 in December last. Two detonating meteors were also observed. The first 

 occurred in England on the 20th of November last, the second in Scotland on 

 the 21st of February. Observations show that on the first of these nights 

 shooting-stars were extremely scarce, so that at Weston-super-Mare and 

 Hawkhurst only one or two meteors could be counted in an hour. This fact, 

 of which the description is contained in the Catalogue, illustrates in a re- 

 markable manner the adventitious character of large meteors. Nevertheless 

 the 20th of November is one among the well-known dates preferred by fire- 

 balls. A third detonating meteor, on the 30th of April, was doubly observed 

 at Manchester and Weston-super-Mare, and its height was well determined. 

 The nearest approach of this meteor to the earth was thirty-seven miles. 

 Startling as are the accounts of detonations heard from such a height, it is 

 yet more surprising that the report from such a distance should be brief and 

 momentary. The sounds caused by meteors yet offer much which, it is 

 hoped, will be explained and illustrated by further observations. 



Interesting papers appear in the Eeport, " On the Origin of Meteorites, 

 the series of Physical Processes of which they are the result, and their 

 functions in Nature," by Professor Brayley ; and " On the Physical History 

 of Meteorites," by Mr. Sorby. It appears from a microscopic analysis of 

 their structure by Mr. Sorby, that when aerolites resemble in their appear- 

 ance igneous terrestrial rocks, the evidence of their previous history has been 

 more or less obliterated, while characteristic peculiarities in their structure 

 evince that they could not have originated in the volcanic action of the 

 moon or any planet. Mr. Brayley infers that they originate in gaseous 

 matter projected from the equator of the sun, and condensed to the solid 

 form in its passage through interplanetary space. A gradual condensation 

 from a vaporous state is said by Mr. Sorby also to represent more nearly 

 than any other the conditions under which they must have been consolidated. 

 In this view of the origin of meteorites (including in the term Meteoric 

 Irons), their source is considered to be unique, and they are traced to the 

 energetic forces whose modes of action are considered in Solar Physics. The 

 bodies thus arising are termed by Mr. Brayley Meteoritic Masses, to di- 

 stinguish them emphatically from all other members of the solar system, as 

 well as from fallen meteorites. 



In another paper contained in this Eeport, which is an abstract of a 

 ' Memoir on Sporadic Shooting- stars,' Mr. Newton, basing his conclusions 

 upon a certain knowledge of their height, arrives at some interesting results 



