406 REPORT — 1867. 



to use the telescope with a power of 45. The trains then looked much like 

 some Nebulfe, and I saw these forms (see figures)." 



At Bathwick Hill, Bath, Mr. W. Dobson reports : — " I observed the trains 

 of several with an achromatic telescope (Cooke's 4-inch aperture, power 40). 

 They mostly disappeared rapidly, except one large one, about 1" 50'" a.m., 

 low in the west, the train of which remained visible in the telescope for nine 

 minutes. It appeared like a long wisp of luminous vapour or smoke, bend- 

 ing and changing its form, growing broader and fainter, and drifting slowly 

 down the wind. While observing it another smaller one crossed the field of 

 the telescope, but its train disappeared in a few seconds." 



Mr. T. Crumplen made many telescopic observations, leading in some cases 

 to good results, both of the nuclei and of the trains of the meteors, from 

 Primrose Hill. 



" The instrument used was byDollond, of l|-inch clear aperture, about 22 

 inches focal length, and power of 30. I took care to focus it on a fi:s;ed star, 

 so that no doubt could arise as to the value of the observations made, and 

 these, so far as practicable, were confirmed by my assistant, who is also 

 accustomed to use the telescope for celestial objects. 



" I saw many meteor-trains by this means, but in most cases they faded 

 too rapidly for good observations. Eight, however, were examined with 

 great success. 



" One of these, at l"" 7"", was visible 10 full minutes. TVTien first seen, 

 immediately after the meteor disappeared, it looked like a long piece of 

 riband in constant motion, and waved throughout its entire length. This 

 band was then nearly 5' in width, and appeared streaky or mottled, as if 

 made up of an immense niimher of interlaced filaments. 



" It changed shape during the time that I observed it, gradually becoming 

 more nebulous, and at last it was almost a circular patch, somewhat elon- 

 gated towards the west. "When in this state it passed over a tolerably 

 bright telescopic star. I could see the star approaching, and I noticed a 

 decided difference in the brilliancy and appearance of this star when im- 

 mersed in the meteor-train. It was vmdoubtedly refracted*. This meteor 

 disappeared some 5° below a Tauri, and the train drifted as much more 

 towards the west-north-west horizon before it finally disappeared. 



" Besides this train, I had telescopic views of seven others, which under- 

 went similar contortions. In several cases the trains bent upwards, becom- 

 ing shaped like the crescent moonf, the horns always directed to the zenith. 

 The filaments in the telescope almost always reminded me of the particles of 

 fibre which fly from the sudden lash of a whip. 



" It was extremely difficult to get a view of a nucleus. In two instances 

 I caught them passing the field, but in flight too transient to permit me to 

 speak of their appearance in positive terms. They resembled a solid body 

 imbedded in a nebulous haze ; biit althovigh I have their appearance well in 

 my mind, I forbear to say anything open to question." 



* As the effect of refraction would make the star Lang upon the edge of the cloud, as 

 is cometimes believed to be the case from a similar cause in the occultation of stars by 

 the moon, such an eifect may have been, hitherto, overlooked That the star's aiapearanoe 

 was affected by partial absorption, or oljscuratiou of its light, is an alteration more easy, 

 in general, to bo explained by a haze, or misty vapour suspended in the cloud. 



t This appearance was sometimes observed with the naked eye. An observer at 

 Mentonc, Mr. Moggridge, in a letter to a Member of the Committee, states that they 

 heralded great outbreaks of the meteoric shower immediately following theii- appearance, 

 and tenns them " lunettes." 



I 



