U8 REPORT— 1876. 



nation, so much like summer lightning that a friend whom I met afterwards 

 walking in the opposite direction, and who had not seen the star, asked me if 

 I saw the lightning, when I pointed out what it was, and showed him the 

 tail. A similar one appeared in about 10 minutes, but not quite so bright, 

 taking its course from a little nearer north, and stopping a little nearer south. 

 Both of these stars were larger and brighter than anj' I ever saw before, and 

 they increased twofold in size and brightness as they went." A sketch is 

 annexed showing the courses of the meteors Nos. 1 and 2, the first from 

 about N.E. by N. to S.W. by S., and the second on a course from about 

 N.N.E. to S.S.W., both tracks extending between points at no very great 

 altitude and at nearly equal apparent elevations above the horizon in those 

 directions. It appears probable that both of these large meteors were Per- 

 seids of considerable brightness, of which the first, however (at about ll*" 23"*, 

 as observed elsewhere), left the most conspicuous and long-enduring light- 

 streak on its course. 



Meteor of August loth, 1876, about O*" 30" p.m., Bath (Mr. W. Bush).— 

 " On the above evening I took a seat in my garden at about O*" 45"° p.m. 

 at the back of the house, which faces the south-west. I had scarcely been 

 seated more than a minute, when I beheld an exceedingly brilliant meteor 

 of a bluish colour, having a very long white train. It was the second largest 

 meteor I have ever seen. It was at first perceptible to me on the eastern 

 extremity of Ursa Major, but a little nearer the horizon, I should say at an 

 apparent altitude of about 45°. It travelled somewhat obliquely downwards 

 from north-east to south-west, and it finally disappeared behind some houses. 

 In its transit, which occupied several seconds, it passed behind a cloud, 

 and emerging from thence was again equally brilliant." [The duration given 

 is 20 or 30 seconds ; but this cannot be regarded as more than a very rough 

 estimation of the real duration of the meteor's flight. The point of first 

 appearance described is between Arcturus and the tail-stars of Ursa Major, 

 which were on its left, or " eastern extremity " (practically), in the observer's 

 situation facing the south-west.] 



The account of this meteor's appearance by Lieut. H. de H. Haigh at Penn 

 Ilthon, JSTewtown, in Wales (other particulars of his description being given 

 in the above list), was as follows : — " At first it appeared larger, but not much 

 more brilliant, than an ordinary shooting-star ; but it rapidly changed colour 

 from light yellow to red, and finally to a dazzling white resembling the 

 magnesium light, but far more intense, at the same time giving off volumes 

 of smoke, which trailed behind it like the tail of a comet. Its light about 

 the middle of its course was so brilliant that one could have read by it." 



At Pontardawe, Swansea, it is described as the largest meteor ever seen 

 in the district, falling in the north, and illuminating the country for miles 

 around. 



At St. Clear's, near Caermarthen, a splendid meteor, with a light like 

 that of daylight, moved rapidly "eastward," followed by a train of most 

 brilliant hues — green, orange, crimson, and violet. It lasted for about eight 

 seconds. Mr. J. P. IN'orris, at Bristol, wrote : — " A splendid meteor has this 

 moment fallen due west of this house. It first appeared in the neighbour- 

 hood of Arcturus, then seemed to burst and trail light of rainbow colours, 

 and was visible nearly to the horizon slanting toivards the north. Its 

 distance cannot have been great, for we saw it for two thirds of its course 

 against a dark cloud. It may therefore have fallen in the neighbourhood of 

 Clevedon." 



The direction of the meteor's motion in these accounts, its long dura- 



