Shooting Stars of December 6 and 7, 1838. 357 



and in a few instances from other parts of the heavens. A few 

 left trails of light, but the most of them did not. The greatest 

 number was seen between 8 o'clock and 12, after which compar- 

 atively few were observed.' Capt. D. informed me that he must 

 have noticed as many as two hundred, during the four hours 

 above mentioned. His testimony is worthy of entire confidence." 



None of the observers, whose statements are cited above, were 

 apprised (so far as I can learn) that any thing unusual was expect- 

 ed to occur at the time. On this account, their testimony will 

 perhaps by some be considered more satisfactory. It is to be re- 

 gretted that the observers did not notice, with more attention, the 

 region of the heavens from which the meteors appeared to radiate. 



In regard to the question of the annual occurrence in December 

 of an uncommonly large number of meteors, I annex the follow- 

 ing extracts. The evidence which they contain is quite indefi- 

 nite, and each one may allow them what importance he pleases. 



(1.) "The meteors called Falling-stars were much more fre- 

 quent during this winter than we ever before saw them, and par- 

 ticularly during the month of December," [1824, at Port Bowen, 

 N. lat. 70° 20' ; W. Ion. 80° 40']. Then follows a particular ac- 

 count of several meteors observed on the 8th, 9th, 12th, and 14th 

 December. Compend of the Journals of Capt. Parry'' s Three 

 Voyages to the Arctic Seas, (5 vols. 18mo, Lond. 1828,) vol. 5, p. 

 49, &c. 



(2.) M. J. Milbert, in chap. 3, of his Voyage Pittoresque a Vile 

 de France, etc. (Paris, 1812, 8vo,) gives a sketch of the meteor- 

 ology of that island, (S. lat. 20°; E. Ion. 57° 30'.) In his ac- 

 count of the character of the month of December, he states that 

 this season is the time in which luminous meteors are seen trav- 

 ersing the heavens.* It cannot be determined whether his state- 

 ment refers to any particular part of the month. 



(3.) " Daring the severe concussions [of the earthquake] of the 

 4th and 5th, [December, 1809, at the Cape of Good Hope,] the 

 watches and clocks lost a good deal of time, a fire-ball was ob- 



* " Cette saison brfilante est celle aussi ou les mfeteores brillent dans le ciel et se 

 prfesentent quelquefois comnie un enorme globe de feu ou comme une longue fusee 

 qui traverse lentemont I'espace, jetant une lumiere tres vive ; d'autres fois ils pro- 

 duisent une detonation aussi forte qu'un coup de canon; il n'est pas rare de voir 

 paraitre tout-k-coup dans le ciel ces jets de lumiere qui, parfois, se divisent apres 

 I'explosion, en laissantune trainee blanch&tre qui forme un leger nuage, et bientot 

 qui se perd dans I'espace." Tome 3, p. 83. 



