1853] OBSERVATIONS OF METEORS AT THE 



rapidity from the North-west towards the East, The pale 

 streamer's were apparently accompanied by dark coloured or 

 rather black waving streamers. At the base of the auroral field 

 — for arch it could scarcely be termed — a dense, long, and very 

 narrow black cloud formed rapidly : the shortest diameter of the 

 cloud was about 10 degrees; it was also removed about 10 

 degrees from the horizon, and beneath it the stars were plainly 

 visible. When the cloud was fully developed it served as a base, 

 from which a constant succession of long, and unusually broad, 

 pale and black ( ?) streamers arose. The progress of the Aurora 

 was from North-west to East. Tie streamers did not appear, in 

 their upward ascent, to converge. Of a sudden, the Eastern por- 

 tion of the auroral field seemed to be bent back upon itself, and 

 thus, apparently, partially folded, with one part rather lower than 

 the other, the very magnificent spectacle of a nearly circular crown 

 quite illuminated the North-eastern horizon for the space of two 

 minutes. The time this beautiful phenomenon occurred was 

 about \ past 3 a. m. It was succeeded by one equally curious, 

 although not so imposing. A few minutes after the auroral 

 crown had disappeared, no trace of any auroral light could be 

 discerned in the Northern horizon. Toward the East, however 

 a very faint pyramid of light, occupied the heavens to the height 

 of about 50 degrees. Supposing that this might still be a portion 

 of the Aurora which we had just been watching, or that the eye 

 might not have recovered its tone after the recent brilliant display 

 of light in the North, we rested awhile, and, after a quarter of an 

 hour, on again looking toward the East, found that the pyramid 

 of light had not only increased in distinctness, but also appeared 

 to have extended itself in all directions, still retaining the form of 

 a gigantic, faintly luminous pyramid. The Zodiacal light, for 

 such it was, remained visible, and with increasing luminosity, 

 until obscured by morning clouds. 



Observations of Meteors at the Frovincial Maguetic Observatory. 



A look-out was kept for the periodic recurrence of the meteoric 

 fall on or about the 10th of August, known as the St. Lawrence 

 Stream, from the time of its occurrence being near St. Law,- 

 rence's Day. With the exception of that between the 12th and 

 14th of November, the St. Lawrence is the most brilliant and 

 best established of all the periodic falls. It was noticed as early 

 as the tenth century, and its constant recurrence about the same 

 time of the year is attested not only by old traditionary legends, 

 but by ancient church calendars, under the poetical title of " St. 

 Lawrence's fiery tears." Scientific attention w T as drawn to the 

 fact by Muschenbrock in the middle of last century, and it has 

 since been repeatedly confirmed by Quetelet and others. 



According to the observations of Julius Schmidt at Bonn, the 

 number of meteors on an average of 8 years was, for August 9th 

 29 in one horn-; and for August 10th, on an average of 6 years 

 SI in one hour. The observations of Heis shew for the 10th of 

 August, in 1839, a fall of 160 in one hour; in 1840, a fall of 

 43, and in 1841, of 50 in that time; while, in 1842, there fell 

 in ten minutes no less than 34. The great frequency of these 

 meteors is sufficient to distinguish them from the merely sporadic 



PROVINCIAL MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY. 89 



of which a fall of from 4 to 5 per hour may commonly be ex- 

 pected ; they are also distinguished by a tendency to parallelism 

 in their directions, and a common point of divergence or con- 

 vergence. 



At Toronto on August 9th, 1853. — None were observed till 9.47 

 P.M., between which time and 12.40 P.M, there fell 46 

 meteors; observation was continued for some time longer, 

 but no more were seen. These may be classified as fol- 

 lows, being at the rate of 16 per hour: — 



Of first magnitude 2 



" second " 2 



" third " 5 



" fourth " 9 



" fifth and lower magnitude 2S 



In direction N _. j 



S """" 4 



E 2 



W- 5 



Between N and E 2 



" E « S-._ 15 



" S " W- n 



" W " N 6 



There were 10 which left behind perceptible trains, and in 

 general their flight was very rapid and short, only 12 being visible 

 for one second and upwards. The night was very favourable. 



On August 10th, 22 were seen between 8.59 P.M., and 12.9, 

 being at the rate of 7 per horn; but the early part of the evening 

 was unfavourable, being thickly overspread with haze. Not one 

 of the first, and only one of the second magnitude fell, the ma- 

 jority being very small. The directions were as follows : — 

 N,2; 8,6; E,2; W,none; N E, 1; N W, 1 ; SE,3; SW, 7 



Only 2 had tails, and in no case was the time of flight more than 

 half a second. 



August 11th was unfavorable, being overcast; only 2 seen. 



August 12th was clear, bnt only 5 fell in 2 hour's observation. 



August 13th, observations made for one hour and twenty 

 minutes before the sky became overcast. Not one meteor was 

 seen. 



The following remarkable ones were casually observed during 

 the month : — 



Aug. 6, at 10.45 P.M. — A very largo one moving from S E to 

 W N W, in a course of 20 ° length ; time of flight 2 

 seconds ; large train visible some time after its disappear- 

 ance ; colour very bright, with tinge of orange. 



Aug. 8, at 8.50 P.M. — One with a course of 35 ° , in direction 

 S S E, leaving a tail of a dull orange colour throughout 

 the whole of its path, which lasted for some seconds. 



Aug. 10, at 8.10 P.M. — A bright-red meteor; time of flight 2 

 seconds; direction S W; apparently nearer than the 

 clouds. 



