1867.] Astronomy. 87 



tion. This consists in covering an achromatic object-glass with a 

 thin film of silver. Such a film, he finds, does not interfere with 

 the definition of the sun. The rays from the less refrangible end 

 of the spectrum are stopped, while the others suffice to exhibit the 

 solar features. M. Leverrier pronounces very favourably on this 

 arrangement, which " seems to promise," he says, more distinct views 

 of the sun than have hitherto been obtained. Other observers find 

 the details of the solar disc slightly " veiled " when thus viewed. 

 It appears to us that there are several objections to the new method, 

 and we should not recommend amateurs to have a valuable object- 

 glass silvered, until something more is heard as to the possibility 

 of restoring the glass to its original state. 



But we hear of a contrivance by Messrs. G. and S. Merz of 

 Munich, which seems to promise better views of the sun than have 

 ever yet been obtained. In their solar eye-piece, two pairs of 

 plane unsilvered glass mirrors are so placed, that, by rotating one 

 pair, any part whatever of the sun's light may be intercepted. By 

 this arrangement no false colour is introduced, as with blue, or 

 neutral-tint glasses. Father Secchi says that films are seen 

 with a frosy tint (the colour of the protuberances seen in solar 

 eclipses), in the new ocular, which appeared blue in the common 

 oculars. 



The display of meteors (or Humboldt's star-shower, as some 

 name the phenomenon) fully equalled the expectations of the 

 most sanguine. Mr. Dawes considers that upwards of 3,500 fell 

 before 2h. 15m., on the morning of November 14th. Mr. Tal- 

 niage noted the following numbers in successive intervals of five 

 minutes from 12h. 52m. to 2h. 12m.:— 115, 125, 231, 324, 239, 

 214, 147, 104, 109, 57, 5Q, 31,22, 28, 37, 20; showing that the 

 maximum intensity of the shower occurred at about a quarter-past 

 one. While Mr. Hind and M. Du Chaillu (who assisted him) 

 note that " few of the meteors were remarkable for brilliancy or 

 persistence of the trains," Mr. Harris, of Southern-hay, near Exeter, 

 remarks, that at lh. 15m. a very bright meteor burst, causing a light 

 as hright as daylight, leaving a train which lasted for a quarter 

 of an hour. This is probably the same meteor that is described 

 by Mr. Heath as passing through the Pleiades at 1.30 a.m., and 

 leaving a trail which did not disappear for four minutes. A more 

 satisfactory observation of this " bright, particular star," is that made 

 by Capt. Noble, the astronomer. He notes it as "a splendid one," 

 hour 13h, :20m. 10s. (that is, lh. 20m.) S.W. of Pleiades, leaving a 

 train which lasted upwards of five minutes by the Observatory 

 clock, and which gradually contracted into a fusiform mass (like 

 31 M. Andromedae), then into an amorphous one, and finally disap- 

 peared behind a cloud. Some of these more permanent streaks, 

 observed in the telescope, were found to be in focus with the stars, 



