40 KEPORT— 1880. -> 



of meteoric showers and certain periodic comets in the same circum- 

 solar orbits, and also to the general theory of gatherings of star-dust in 

 nebular bodies, applied to explain the origin of all classes of meteoric 

 phenomena by Schiaparelli. 



In recent years' appendices to the Reports the additions to our know- 

 ledge of the mineralogical structure and probable past history of aerolites 

 is also amply reviewed ; and the real paths of aerolitic and detonating 

 meteors have in several instances been found from observations. A 

 recapitulation of these leading views, and of the observations chronicled 

 in aerolitic and meteoric parts of the Reports during the latter and 

 larger part of the long period of their continuation, leads to the conclu- 

 sion that little (if any) similarity of character can yet be confidently 

 recognised to exist between aerolites, or detonating fireballs and the 

 equally rare and magnificent meteoric phenomena of cometary star- 

 showers. 



The intermediate class of sporadic fireballs and shooting stars has been 

 largely and closely examined and discussed, with consequences of the 

 greatest importance to their scientific discrimination and description. 

 The number of meteor-showers or radiant-points proved to be productive 

 of ordinary displays of shooting stars has been greatly multiplied by 

 observations and reductions ; some few of them, in particular, being 

 shown to be limited and confined to one or two days only of duration, in 

 the annual dates of their appearance. 



Fireballs of various magnitudes, of whose real paths simultaneous 

 observations furnished good determinations, have not unfrequently been 

 shown to be conformable to well-established radiant-points of shooting 

 stars ; and among the many hundreds of meteor radiant-points that have 

 now been recorded, there is also suificient evidence to show that many of 

 the ordinary meteor-systems which they denote may very probably be 

 following in the trains or orbits of certain formerly recorded comets. 



Although presumptive views of a naturally wide distinction between 

 aerolites and cometary shower-meteors are far from being yet refuted and 

 trplajned away by recent theories and observations ; yet the real paths of 

 more than one detonating meteor have now been retraced to recognised 

 ordinary radiant-points of shooting stars. The course of the large 

 detonating fireball of Nov. 23, 1878, moreover, while it was strictly con- 

 formable to the well-marked radiant-point of the a-Taurids of November, 

 presented also a very close accordance with the somewhat uncertainly 

 determined orbit (because founded on rather scanty observations) of the 

 periodic comet of 1702. 



Much aid, it will be seen from this short outline of the Committee's 

 labours during twenty years, has been afforded by its annual compilations 

 to advance the present astronomical theory of shooting stars with 

 materials of observation and by reviews of contemporary speculations. 



The opportunities of which the Committee has hitherto been able to 

 avail itself for correspondence and reductions of the observations annually 

 received have not been adequate during the last two years for producing 

 a complete category of their yearly undertaking. A detention like that 

 required last year of some of the meteor contributions, and a deferment 

 for a season of some reviews of printed memoirs on meteoric subjects, 

 must accordingly be granted for the present, until the occasion may occur 

 when a more convenient opportunity may offer itself for their presenta- 

 tion. ' 



