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Biographical Sketch of Prof. Olmsted. 117 
and support, also, of M. Biot, who assigns to Prof. Olmsted the 
credit of its authorship. 
It will be seen, from the brief account we have given, that 
Prof. Olmsted was inclined to adopt theories very similar to each 
other, to explain the phenomena of shooting stars, of auroras, 
and of the zodiacal light—if not, indeed, to ascribe them all to 
one and the same origin. But if, in the case of auroras or the 
zodiacal light, his speculations shall fail to be confirmed, it 
mus 
attractive and useful to all, by pointing out its practical appioe: 
1 ouses 
a 
niary profit, at a time when his insufficient salary rendered an 
increase of income particularly acceptable, but afterwards, from 
- 
