On the Meteors of I3th JVovember. 361 



avoid the conclusion, that this change was greatly concerned in the 

 production of the recent meteors ; and that therefore, they must 

 have had an atmospheric origin. 



Thirdly, the similar relation which both the phenomena have exhibited 

 to the direction of the magnetic needle. This is by far the most de- 

 cisive argument ; if I have committed no mistake as to the fact, and 

 if the optical characteristics be considered as not opposed to an iden- 

 tity of origin. 



There is, however, one important circumstance that may be 

 thought inconsistent with such an identity. Admit that in both cases 

 the jets of light moved parallel to the magnetic needle when freely 

 suspended, yet the aurora borealis proceeds from the north towards 

 the zenith : whereas the meteors in the present case had a contrary 

 direction.* The cause of this contrariety we may not indeed, be 

 able to explain : but why should not electro-magnetic exhibitions in 

 the heavens emanate from the south pole of the needle as well as the 

 north ? The mystery is, rather, why the corruscations should not as 

 often move from the zenith towards the horizon, as from the horizon 

 towards the zenith. The rarity of the former occurrence, however, 

 ought to lead us to expect some remarkable modifications of the 

 phenomena when it does take place ; since a peculiar combination of 

 circumstances is probably necessary to its production. 



May we not then be permitted, on the principles of rational phi- 

 losophy, to regard the splendid meteoric phenomenon which we 

 have recently seen, as a mere modification of the aurora borea- 

 lis : or rather, might it not be appropriately styled aurora austra- 

 lis ; and we can hesitate to regard it as an electro-magnetic phe- 



* Their apparent direction, if, as I suppose, they are influenced by electro-mag- 

 netic laws, will depend upon the situation of the magnetic needle. Humboldt and 

 Bonpland, in their account of the remarkable meteoric display observed by them tn 

 South America, in 1779, state that the direction of the meteors " was very regular 

 from north to south. In an amplitude 60°, the meteors were seen to rise above the ho- 

 rizon at east north-east, and at east to describe arcs more or less extended, falling to- 

 wards the south, after having followed the direction of the meridian." Very proba- 

 bly these meteors followed the magnetic meridian ; although these observers seem tc 

 have been unfavorably situated for determining this point. The same phenomenon 

 was observed in the Gulf of Florida, by Mr. Ellicott, in Labrador and Greenland by 

 the Moravian missionaries, and in Germany by M. Zeissing: and the meteors ap- 

 pear to have had different directions in at least several of these places. Whether the 

 differences observed in these respects may not be explained by the great differences 

 in the position of the needle in countries so remote, I have not now the leisure for 

 determining. 



Vol. XXV.— No. 2. 46 



