Comets. 381 



they attribute animal and vegetable characteristics upon in- 

 sufficient grounds, and the connection of which with other 

 forms of life they do not seem to appreciate. 



COMETS. 



AS ACCOUNT OP ALL THE COMETS WHOSE OEBITS HATE UOT BEEN CALCULATED, 



BY G. F. CHAMBERS. 



(Continued from page 222, vol. iv.) 



499. A comet appeared previous to the second invasion of 

 Illyria by the Bulgarians. — (Zonaras, Annal. ii. 56. Ed. Paris. 

 1686.) 



501. On February 13 a great comet appeared in the hori- 

 zon. On March 2nd it was still visible. — (Ma-tuoan-lin.) 



504. A great and brilliant star with, a long ray appeared 

 about the time of the death of Ambrosius Aurelius. — (Galfredus, 

 Britann. viii. 4.) 



507. On August 15th a comet was seen in the N.E. — 

 (Gaubil.) 



519. A "fearful star/' with a tail turned towards the W., 

 was seen this year, possibly in the winter. — (Theophanes, p. 

 143 ; Malala, Hist. Cliron. xvii.) 



520. On October 7th a comet was seen in the E., bright, 

 like fire. On November 30th it was seen in the morning.— 

 (Gaubil.) 



524. A star was seen for twenty- six days and nights "above 

 the gate of the palace." — (Cedrenus, Commend. Hist. p. 365. 

 Paris. 1647.) 



530 or 531. A great comet was observed in Europe and 

 China, but accounts differ as to the year, though probably it 

 was 531. " It was a very large and very fearful comet," and 

 was seen in the W. for three weeks. Its rays extended to the 

 zenith. — (Theophanes, p. 154; Malala, xviii.) It was observed 

 [? passed] in October from a Bootis to A, and //, UrsEe Majoris. 

 — (De Mailla, v. 299.) Hind thinks that this was Halley's 

 Comet. If it arrived in perihelion at the beginning of Novem- 

 ber, it would have occupied the positions given by the historians, 

 and anyhow it must have been near perihelion at this time. 

 It is not impossible that there was a comet in each of the above 

 years, a theory which might perhaps remove some of the dis- 

 crepancies which exist, supposing there only to have been one 

 comet. 



534. A comet appeared in Leo and Virgo; passing v 



