158 On the Meteors of 13th November, 1833. 
ved eastward with a very perceptible progress, equal to that of an or- 
dinary cloud a mile high, carried by a breeze of 10 miles per hour. 
But in order to move with such an apparent angular velocity at the 
height of 30 miles, it must have had a real motion of 300 miles per 
_ hour. The improbability of either of these suppositions, would lead 
us to believe, that the place of explosion where the trains were form- 
ed, was comparatively near to the earth. 
This conclusion is much strengthened by several other considera- 
tions. It was the general impression of spectators, that the meteors 
descended almost to the earth. In this they were doubtless under a 
mistake, but still the impression is hardly compatible with the suppo- 
sition, that those bodies were, at the time of their extinction, very 
high in the atmosphere. ‘Those observers who were on the water, 
would not be so likely to be deceived in this respect, as those on land; 
and such, in various instances, testify that they appeared ‘to come 
quite down to the water’s edge, to reach the tops of the masts,” and 
even “ to fall into the water.”* 
Again, the improbability that the same train, resulting from the de- 
struction of a large meteor, was seen by observers remote from each 
other, is increased by the fact that trains, which must have been diff- 
erent, greatly resembled one another. ‘Thus the one described by 
Dr. Hildreth, in a preceding article, (See p. 87,) resembles that 
mentioned by myself before referred to, almost or quite as much as 
the one described by Mr. Tomlinson. It was seen at about the 
same time of day, (twenty minutes before six,) had nearly the same 
course, exploded near the same place, and left a serpentine train. 
Yet these three descriptions cannot possibly refer to one and the 
same body. Indeed the tortuous figure which the trains successive- 
ly assumed, is very characteristic of the trains of falling stars, and is 
even recognized in the history of Chinese meteors. (See p. 133.) 
This peculiar change of figure may be conceived to arise from the 
action of the wind. ‘The train being left at first in the path of the 
meteor, is of course straight; but the oblique action of the wind 
would soon change its form, and may easily be imagined to give it 
the wavy outline exhibited. Moreover the trains, according to the 
testimony of various observers, were largest in the center and taper- 
ed towards either extremity. ‘This appearance would result from 
the manner in which the combustion or destruction of the meteor 
* See Mr. Schoolcraft’s letter p. 139, and the last No. of this Journal, p. 392. 
