274 



REPORT — 1878. 



serve no useful purpose — the care was expended on the true direction and 

 general position of the paths. 



The following observations of true Perse'ids were obtained: — 



Mean Alt. of the 

 Perseus Radiant, 

 h. m. h. m. 



Aug. 9, 8 50 to 9 50, counted 5 Perse'ids and 4 others 24 



Aug. 10, 9 30 to 10 35, „ 2C Perse'ids and 15 others 28 



„ 10 55 to 12 0, „ 22 Perse'ids and 9 others 37 



Aug. 11, 8 55 to 10 38, „ 26 Perse'ids and 22 others 26 



I find the radiant point to be distinctly double. 12 of the above 

 tracks indicate with great precision the position 46° -+- 57°'6, and 8 give 

 38° + 56 o- with equal accuracy. Although hardly 4° apart, I have no 

 doubt these two centres of radiation are distinct. 



1878, March 25th, 10 h 22 m 30 3 a.m. Forfarshire and the east coast of 

 Scotland. The fireball, described as brilliant in daytime, and in bright 

 sunshine, in Scotland and in the northern counties of England on this 

 date, pursued its visible course over the North Sea from a height of 50 

 miles over a point 30 miles E.S.E. from Berwick to a height of scarcely 

 more than 20 miles over the sea 45 miles E.N.E. from Aberdeen. This 

 path is 130 miles long, descending with a slope of about 13°, from 5° or 6° 

 W. of South, towards 5° or 6° E. of North, referred to the horizon of 

 places near Dundee and Aberdeen. Of the duration of the meteor's flight 

 in this course but few accounts were preserved ; but at a height of 35 

 miles when it was off Arbroath (" a little north of east " from Callander), 



