303 EEPORT— 1869. 



when disappearing, a nebula, which resembk^d a waterspout in high latitudes. 

 It was not until 6^ 30™ a.m. that approaching dawn and sunrise put an end 

 to the display." 



In reference to these accounts, it is stated by Mr. Marsh that the observa- 

 tions of 1866 afforded no ground for expecting this Asiatic display of 1867, 

 since the star-shower appeared and disappeared in the United States of 

 America within two hours of its appointed time, or at about 4'' 30"" a.m., 

 New York time, on the 14th of November. Since the latter hour would, 

 from the difference of longitude (12*^ 40" east of New York), and from the 

 commencement of the day earlier (by that space of time) in China than in 

 America, correspond to about 5^* 10"" p.m. on the afternoon of the 14th of 

 November at Shanghai, it follows that the Chinese shower of November 15th, 

 1867, was observed ten or twelve hours later, in absolute time, than the time 

 of the great appearance of the November meteors in the United States. On 

 the other hand, it has since been pointed out by Mr. Marsh, in a more recent 

 communication to the Committee, that the maximum of the great November 

 star-shower of 1865 was visible in America, and in Europe, on the morning 

 of the 12>th of November, about twelve hours earlier than corresponded to the 

 time of the principal apparition of the shower in the years 1866 and 1867. 

 The central and densest portion of the meteor-stream through which the 

 earth passed in the latter years appears accordingly to be flanked on either 

 side by lateral and somewhat less dense but wider meteoric currents at a dis- 

 tance from the orbit of the main stream, which the earth crossed in about 

 twelve hours on the mornings of the 13tli of November, 1865, and 15th of 

 November, 1867. The Asiatic shower of the latter date accords almost exactly 

 in its epoch with the unexpected reappearance last year in Europe and Ame- 

 rica of the great display of meteors on the morning of the 14th of November 

 1868. 



The following extract of a letter from Mr. Marsh to the Secretary of the 

 Committee, dated Philadelphia, January 15th, 1869, contains an ingenious 

 and clear statement of the above interesting result derived from the recent 

 observations : — 



" The Chinese maximum was at about 3'' 30™ p.m. November 14th, Phila- 

 delphia time, so that we should have been in the centre of that group, or 

 stream, this year at O"" 30" p.m. November 13th. The shower Avhich we 

 actually encountered was in fuU progress here by 11'' 30'" p.m., and from the 

 European observations it is proved to have begun two hours earlier. Whereas 

 the American sliower of 1867 should have begun at 9'' a.m, November 13th, 

 and ended at about noon on that day, our shower of this year seems much 

 more directly to represent the Chinese than the American shower of 1867. 



"We had, on the 13th of November, 1865 (maximum at about 3'' a.m.), 

 quite a fine display, much exceeding (I judge from your Hcports) yours of 

 the same year, so that the principal displays of the present series were as 

 follows : — 



" Place, year, and local time of masimiirQ. Philadelphia time of do. 



"Shower A. Philadelphia, 1865, Nov. 13, .3'' 0'" a.m. ... 1865, Nov. 13, 3" 0" a.m. 



„ B.London, 1866, „ 14,1 15 ,, ...1866, „ 13,3 p.m. 



C. Philadelphia, 1867, „ 14,4 30 „ ...1867, „ 14,4 30 a.m. 



„ D.Shanghai, 1867, „ 15,4 30 „ ... 1867, „ 14,3 30 i'.m. 



„ E. Philadelphia, 1868, „ 14,3 1868, „ 14,3 a.m. 



*' Philadelphia should have crossed those several streams, this year, as 

 follows : — 



