Comets. 299 



It was observed in China, on September 10, between the feet 

 of Virgo, Arcturus, and Coma Berenicis. It disappeared on 

 October 8. — (Graubil.) On September 25 it came from 77 

 Bootis. The tail was 30° long. The comet traversed the 

 third, fourth, and fifth sidereal divisions, and then disappeared, 

 after remaining in sight for two months. — (Ma-tuoan-lin.) 



1223. Early in July a comet appeared for eight days in the 

 western heavens, and in the evening twilight. It was looked 

 upon as the precursor of the death of Philip Augustus King of 

 France. — {Ohronigue de France.) Most probably Halley's 

 Comet. — (Hind.) 



1230. A comet appeared. — (Dubravius, Historice Bojemicce, 

 xv.) On December 15, an extraordinary star appeared be- 

 tween Ophiuchus and Serpens, below the stars F. and D. in 

 the head of Cerberus. On March 30, 1231, it had disap- 

 peared. — (Ma-tuoan-lin.) 



1232. On October 17, a comet 10° long was seen in the E., 

 to the S. of a Virginis. On the sixteenth day of its appari- 

 tion it was close to the moon. On the twenty-seventh day, at 

 the fifth watch, it reappeared in the S.E. and was 40° long, 

 and was finally lost sight of on November 14. — (De Mailla, ix. 

 173.) Graubil says it began to disappear on December 2. 

 — (Biot.) 



1239. A comet was seen in February. — (Synojp. Chronol.) 

 Shortly after the birth of Edward, son of Henry III., at the 

 commencement of 1238, a splendid comet appeared for several 

 days before sunrise. — (Polydore Virgil, Anglica Historia, xvi.) 

 Edward was certainly born in 1239, so no doubt the Chinese 

 date in the correct one. 



1240. On January 25, a comet was seen at the end of that 

 month, it was observed in the W. During the month of Fe- 

 bruary it continued to appear in the same quarter of the 

 heavens, the tail pointing to the E. — (Rolandinus, Chronicon 

 v. 1.) In China the comet was seen near a and /3 Pegasi ; on 

 February 23 it passed to the S.E. of a and ft Cassiopeise. It 

 lasted eight weeks. — (Biot.) 



1250. A comet appeared in December, about the time of 

 the death of the Emperor Frederick II. — (Cesta Trevirensium 

 Arclii&piscoporum, No. 266.) 



1254. In November a comet appeared. — (Petrus Pictari- 

 ensis, Chronicon.) 



1262. A comet appeared for several months. — (Crucius, 

 Annates Suevici, pt. iii. lib. ii.) 



1263. In July and August a comet was seen in the E. — 

 (Gassarus, Annates Augustburgenses.) Of doubtful authen- 

 ticity. 



1265. A comet appeared at the beginning of autumn, and 



