88 Chronicles of Science. [Jan,, 



indicating a distance of at least 40 or 50 miles. This observation 

 is due to Mr. Bird, of Birmingham. 



While on the subject of meteorites, we may note that the 

 French Academy has received an intimation from Marshal Vail- 

 lant, that Marshal Bazaine has found an aerolite in Mexico weighing 

 no less than 8 6 J kilogrammes (considerably more than three-quarters 

 of a ton !) 



In the ' Astronomisclie Nachrichten' (No. 1,606) is an account 

 from C. Behrmann, of Gottingen, of shooting stars coming out of 

 a thick cloud, about 15° from the horizon. The cloud, which 

 covered the sky, was so dense that meteors could not have been 

 seen through it. He considers, therefore, that the stars were driven 

 through the cloud, and came within one-tenth of a mile from the 

 earth. It appears to us that we have read of phenomena strikingly 

 resembling those described by M. Behrmann, — in Arago's Meteoro- 

 logical Essays, under the head ' globular lightnings! 



The planet Mars will be in opposition on January 10th, 1867, 

 and though less favourably situated as respects distance than in 

 November and December, 1864, or October, 1862, will be well 

 worth careful study. In fact, the presentation of Mars, and 

 the phenomena exhibited upon hi3 surface, vary considerably 

 from opposition to opposition ; the complete study of the planet 

 requires that he should be observed at oppositions occurring all 

 round the ecliptic. As respects the oppositions of 1862 and 1864, 

 we refer our readers to Professor Phillips's graphic paper in our 

 volume for 1865. In the approaching opposition the Polar pre- 

 sentation of the planet (as seen in an inverting telescope) will be 

 that shown in Fig. 1. 



FIG-. I F/0-.2 



The outlines of continents and seas here marked in are 

 obtained from the map accompanying the above-named article. 

 By tracing (from Fig. 1) a series of meridian outlines, and 



