On the Meteors of 13th JVovember. 393 



(3.) One in the northeast, was heard to explode with a sound like 

 that of a rush of a distant sky rocket. The time from the explo- 

 sion to the hearing, was about 20 seconds. (N. York Commercial 

 Advertiser.) 



(4.) At 4 o'clock, it appears that the explosion of one of the fal- 

 ling balls was sensibly heard. (New York Old Countryman.) 



(5.) President Humphreys heard no sound at Annapolis, Md. (See 

 p. 372.) 



(6.) Dr. Smith, at Salisbury, N. C, heard no sound in the case 

 of a meteor larger than the full moon, " though every sense seemed 

 to be suddenly aroused, in sympathy with the violent impression on 

 the sight." Nor did he at any time hear any aerial noises, (p. 379.) 



(7.) I could distinguish no report even from the largest of these 

 bodies. (Mr. V. H. Barber, Frederic, Md.) • 



(8.) A crackling sound attended them both. (Richmond En- 

 quirer.) 



(9.) Loud explosion said to have been heard off Charleston. (See 

 p. 391.) 



Remarks. — It is well known that persons unaccustomed to ob- 

 servations in the stillness of night, are apt when listening, at such 

 times, to hear sounds which they associate with any remarkable phe- 

 nomenon that happens to be present, although wholly unconnected 

 with it. This fact suggests the necessity of caution in the present 

 case. 



Meteors which were distinguished for their brightness and ap- 

 parent magnitude, and which would therefore be expected to afford 

 sounds, might still be loo distant for such sounds to be audible j or 

 might be in a region of the atmosphere where the air is too much 

 rarefied for the purposes of sound. It is possible that fragments of 

 such large meteors might reach the ground, and give a slight report, 

 while the explosion of the great body of the meteor was unheard. 

 (See Mr. Palmer's observations, p. 384.) 



The question whether any sounds proceeded from the meteors, 

 must rest, for its decision, on the circumstances of the case; such as 

 the peculiarity of the sounds, their nature as described by different 

 observers, &,c. 



7. Course and direction. — The meteors moved either in right 

 lines, or in such apparent curves as, upon optical principles, can be 

 resolved into right lines. To some observers, they appeared to des- 

 cend directly downwards ; to others to tend towards the northwest 5 

 and to others, to move in every direction. 



Vol. XXV.— No. 2. 50 



