Meteoric Shower of 1S36. 387 



shower appeared in a more imposing form, and was seen at Mocha, 

 in Arabia ;* in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean ;f near Orenburg, 

 in Russia ;| and at Pernambuco, in South America.^ The magnifi- 

 cent Meteoric Shower of 1S33, is too well known to require tlie re- 

 cital of any particulars. Of the recurrence of the phenomenon at 

 the corresponding period in 1834, and in 1835, evidence has been 

 presented to the public in previous numbers of this Journal. (See 

 Vols, xxvii, pp. 339 and 417. xxix, 168.) 



I now feel authorized to assert, that the Meteoric Shower re- 

 appeared on the morning of the 13th November, 1836. 



It has been supposed by some, that the appearance of an extra- 

 ordinary number of shooting stars, at the several anniversaries since 

 the great phenomenon of November, 1833, can be accounted for by 

 the fact, that so general an expectation of such an event has been 

 excited, and that so many persons have been on the watch for it. 

 Having, however, been much in the habit of observing phenomena 

 of this kind, I can truly say, that those exhibitions of shooting stars 

 which have for several years occurred on the 13th or 14th of No- 

 vember, are characterized by several peculiarities which clearly dis- 

 tinguish them from ordinary shooting stars. Such peculiarities are 

 the following. 



1. The number of meteors, though exceedingly variable, is much 

 greater than usual, especially of the larger and brighter kinds. 



2. An uncommonly large proportion leave luminous trains. 



3. The meteors, with few exceptions, all appear to proceed from 

 a common center, the position of which has been uniformly in nearly 

 the same point in the heavens, viz. in some part of the constellation 

 Leo. 



4. The principal exhibition has at all times, and at all places, oc- 

 curred between midnight and sunrise, and the maximum from three 

 to four 0^ clock. 



In all these particulars, the Meteoric Showers of 1834, 5, and 6, 

 have resembled that of 1833 ; while no person, so Air as I have 

 heard, has observed the same combination of circumstances on any 

 other occasion within the same period. I have not supposed it ne- 

 cessary, in order to establish the identity of these later meteoric 



* Amer. Jour, xxvi, 13G. t lb. 349- 



t Ed. New Phil. Jour. Julij, 183G. 



§ Nevv York American, Nov. 15, 1836. 



