X THE STARRY HEAVENS 407 



There are, indeed, stragglers scattered over the 

 whole orbit, with, some of which we come in 

 contact every year, but we pass through the 

 main body three times in a century — last in 

 1866 — capturing millions on each occasion. 

 One of these has been graphically described 

 by Humboldt : 



" From half after two in the morning the 

 most extraordinary luminary meteors were 

 seen in the direction of the east. M. Bonp- 

 land, who had risen to enjoy the freshness of 

 the air, perceived them first. Thousands of 

 bodies and falling stars succeeded each other 

 during the space of four hours. Their direc- 

 tion was very regular from north to south. 

 They filled a space in the sky extending from 

 due east 30° to north and south. In an ampli- 

 tude of 60° the meteors were seen to rise 

 above the horizon at east-north-east, and at 

 east, to describe arcs more or less extended, 

 and to fall towards the south, after having 

 followed the direction of the meridian. Some 

 of them attained a height of 40°, and all ex- 

 ceeded 25° or 30°. No trace of clouds was to 

 be seen. M. Bonpland states that, from the 



