390 0]i the Meteors of I olh November. 



(1.) At Annapolis, these meteors had two distinct appearances: 

 one was a dull, red colored line, similar to iron visibly heated, the 

 other that of the splendid radiance of a star, or of a rocket just 

 exploded. (Dr. S. B. Smith.) 



(2.) See, among the general description, No. 5. 



(3.) The ^rs^ of these varieties is recognized in many descrip- 

 • lions by comparing the appearance to that of large flakes of snow, 

 in the expressions " it snowed fire," &.c. "I found the entire atmos- 

 phere [at 4 o'clock] filled with flakes of fire ; I say flakes, for they 

 resembled flakes of snow of a stellated or radiated form, apparently 

 an inch in diameter, of a pale rose red, falling in a vertical direction 

 as thickly at the moment as ever I saw snow, there being no Avind 

 to deflect them from the perpendicular; and when within ten or 

 twelve feet of the earth, bursting (T could not detect either explosion 

 snapping, or cracking) into innumerable spangles, or smaller stars, pre- 

 cisely as a rocket does." (Rush M'Connel, M. D., at Mauch Chunk.) 

 On this comparison a writer of Union Town, Pennsylvania, remarks : 

 " The phenomenon did not in the least resemble a shower of snow, 

 to which it has been compared, either in the number, direction, or 

 velocity, of the objects presented to the vision. The meteors did not 

 foil towards the earth, but shot oflf like streams of fire at an angle of 

 less than thirty degrees with the horizon, — not slowly like falling flakes 

 of snow, but with nearly the rapidity of lightning, often crossing half 

 the visible heavens in less than a second." (J. B. M. Union Town 

 Democrat.) 



(4.) Of the second variety, we have descriptions in almost every 

 account of the phenomena. We subjoin a kw of these notices. 

 See, among the general descriptions, No. 1. 



At JYew York. — At about quarter past 5 o'clock, we saw a star 

 shoot from the zenith, about two or three points westward of north, 

 which in its descent, showed a line of fire, the color of fish blood, 

 about two or three inches wide, which, after traversing far down the 

 vault, formed a ball of the size of a man's hat, and then rushed on 

 the road it had come, and actually assumed the form of a serpent. 

 It lay upon the firmament, we say ten minutes, others say twelve, 

 and then it struck off it seems to the west, and rolled up its coils. 

 (Old Countryman.) 



At Richmond, Virginia. — Two were observed of the size of a six 

 inch globe, the one ten minutes later than the other. The course 

 of the first was N. E. leaving behind a train of light two or three 

 hundred yards in length, while sparks were flying from the body of 

 the meteor in every direction, until it burst into a thousand particles. 

 This, from its first appearance, till it burst, continued in view until 

 the number sixty three, was distinctly counted. The course of the 

 latter was S. E. and it \ivas visible while the nrnwhev one hundred and 

 thirty seven was counted. (Richmond Enquirer.) 



