292 Recent contributions to Astro- Meteorology. 
In two cases only would they come within our field of vision. 
When the perpendicular is very small, a hyperbolic orbit would 
result, differing in general not much from a right line. As the 
radius of the sphere of our vision is only about four times the 
distance from the earth to the sun, this cage would rarely happen. 
The second case is when the relative motion of the comet is 
come 
The planetary hypothesis has hitherto been favored by as- 
tronomers. The ring theory, however, as Mr. Schiaparelli be- 
lieves, leads to serious difficulties respecting the origin of the 
shooting stars, whether the rings be regarded as integral parts 
of the solar system from the beginning, or they be supposed to 
have come from space, being attracted hither by the sun. 
There are two arguments which show that the meteoroids 
‘should be classed with the comets as originally strangers to our 
system, rather than with the planets. The first is that their or- 
bits seem to be inclined at all angles to the ecliptic ;* the second, 
__ that their velocity requires a long if not a parabolic orbit. 
| _® That the inclinations of the orbi of all magnitudes, 
Mr. Schiaparelli infers, Siactsatie tons the- polstnee at the. radiants ‘gre by 
Herschel, and Heis. Although these radiants are open to criticism, 
pe iss: above conclusion is undoubtedly true. It is readily seen that if the orbits 
par 
considerable latitude as those given in the table on pp. 286, 287) 
ve that many of the orbits of the meteoroids, at least, are inclined at large 
angles to the earth’s orbit. me ze ow 
