418 Mince 11 a nies. 



1. The number of meteors, though small, compared with last 

 year, was evidently much above the common average. They began 

 to be frequent as early as four minutes past one o'clock, 7nean time, 

 when a fire ball of unusual size and splendor blazed forth in the 

 east as a signal. From this period they were seen to fall at a pretty 

 uniform rate, until the light of day was far advanced. From a quar- 

 ter past two, until a quarter past five o'clock, we counted, in the 

 eastern view, embracing one third of the visible heavens, one hun- 

 dred and fifty five. Some meanwhile fell in the south west, and a 

 few in the north west, but the number seen in the eastern hemisphere 

 greatly exceeded that in the western. Were we to estimate the 

 whole number which fell during the night, atone thousand, we 

 should probably not exceed the truth. Afier intervals of several 

 minutes, three or four meteors would frequently make their appear- 

 ance in rapid succession. In the eastern view, those south of the 

 echptic, and those north, were neaily equal in number, being for a 

 considerable period as twenty seven to twenty. 



2. The directions of the meteors were more remarkable than 

 theirnumber, and afforded m.ore unequivocal evidence of the identity 

 of the phenomenon with that of last year. They appeared, as be- 

 fore, to radiate from a co7nmon center, and that center was again in 

 the Constellation Leo. In whatever part of the heavens they fell, 

 their lines of direction continued would pass through that point. — 

 The attention of Mr. Loomis was particularly directed towards de- 

 termining the position of the apparent radiant, having taken the bear- 

 ings of a sufficient number of the lines of direction, and afterwards 

 traced them on the globe. They meet near the Lion's eye. Decli- 

 nation 30° 15', Right Ascension 144° 30'. The radiant point is 

 therefore a little northward and westward of the place it occupied 

 last year, which was near Gamma Leonis, Decl. 20°, R. A. 150°. 

 This point was not observed to vary in position for at least three 

 hours, thus corresponding to the conclusions which were made out 

 respecting the radiant last year, a circumstance from which it was 

 inferred that the source of the meteors was beyond the influence of 

 the earth's rotation, and consequently beyond the atmosphere. 



The meteors generally fell in the arcs of great circles extending 

 from the radiant point, but four were observed to ascend from it. — 

 One, at a quarter before four o'clock shot from near Procyon towards 

 the radiant ; and three were observed, at different times, moving with 

 extreme slowness, horizontally from west to east, south of Orion, 

 and Canis Major. 



