392 On the Meteors of 13th JVovember. 



5. Height. — The appearance of the meteors was such, as to give 

 to spectators the impression, that they were generally low in the at- 

 mosphere, and that they sometimes descended quite to the earth. 



(1.) Generally the meteors appeared to be very low in the atmos- 

 phere : some, to come down apparently almost to the house tops. 

 (" Observer," Boston Centinel.) 



(2.) Their general height above the earth was apparently not more 

 than two or three miles, and they frequently appeared to fall within 

 a few hundred yards of it before they became extinct. (Georgia 

 Messenger.) 



(3.) See Mr. Palmer's observations, p. 383. 



(4.) They appeared to be extinguished in an azure belt, that en- 

 circled the horizon. (Richmond, Virg. Enquirer.) 



(5.) Many of the meteors seemed almost to strike the masts of 

 the vessels. (Charleston Mercury.) 



(6.) Some expired soon after the commencement of their motion j 

 others descended apparently quite down to the water's edge, leaving 

 behind them a bright luminous track. While descending, it seemed 

 as if some would fall upon the deck of the boat though none did. 

 (Pilot of the Steam Boat Providence, as stated by Professor Cas- 

 well.) 



(7.) They ceased to appear when within 10 degrees of the hori- 

 zon. (New York Commercial Advertiser.) 



(8.) They appeared to form high in the air, and to become ex- 

 tinct within 50 or 100 feet of the earth. (Dr. J. P. Kirtland of 

 Poland, O.) 



6, Sound.— According to the observations of by far the greater 

 number of spectators, the meteors were unaccompanied by any pe- 

 culiar sound ; but on the other hand, such a sound, supposed to pro- 

 ceed from the meteors, was distinctly heard by a few observers in va- 

 rious places. 



(1.) None was heard by the writer of this article, though listen- 

 ed for with much attention. Mr. Daniel Tomlinson of Brookfield, 

 Con. informed the writer, that he listened repeatedly to discover if 

 there was any report, but could hear none. Yet Mr. Palmer heard 

 sounds resembling a pop-gun, or the smaller explosions of a sky 

 rocket. 



(2.) Dr. Lee, of New Britain, a kw miles northeast of New Haven, 

 saw the meteor which is described p. 366, as falling near Capella, and 

 thinks it was accompanied by a noise like the rushing of a sky- 

 rocket. (Letter to Prof. Silliman.) 



(3.) No sound was heard at Providence, nor by the pilot of the 

 steam boat in Long Island Sound ; a hissing noise is said by others to 

 have been heard after this explosion. (Professor Caswell.) 



