160 Phenomena accompanyiny the fall of Meteorites. [Dec. 10, 



Mr. A. S. Herscliel's observations with the spectroscope, we learn that the 

 condition of the August meteors is exactly that of a flame of gas in a 

 Bunsen's burner freely charged with the vapour of burning sodium, or of the 

 flame of a spirit-lamp newly trimmed and largely dosed with a supply of 

 moistened salt (op. cit. p. 146). The idea of a diminutive fireball containing 

 the solid mass, although diminutive itself, surrounded by a luminous gaseous 

 case, including a vacuum, till the force of the movement is spent in heat and 

 light, may not be considered inadequate to the subject. 



In a most interesting memoir entitled " Contributions to the Knowledge 

 of Falling Stars " *, by Dr. Edmond Weiss, of Vienna, that able astronomer 

 (the representative, together with Dr. Oppolzer and Lieut. Beziha, of the 

 Austrian Navy, of our Austrian expedition for the eclipse of 18th of August 

 at Aden, where they were so hospitably welcomed and kindly supported by 

 the Governor-General, J. Russell, in behalf of the British Government, 

 along with the North-German expedition, composed of Drs. Vogel, Fritsche, 

 Zenker, and Thiele) considers among other subjects the influence of the 

 earth's attraction upon shower-meteors, independently of Schiaparelli's 

 disquisitions relative to the same subject, and points out also the circum- 

 stance that some of them may receive such a direction as to leave our solar 

 system altogether, while Dr. Galle insists upon the fact that the Pultusk 

 swarm must have entered it with an independent force of at least from 4|- 

 to 7 English miles (1 to 1^ geographical miles). 



My original design was only to offer some appropriate remarks on the 

 subject of the phenomena of light, heat, and sound generated in and 

 accompanying the arrival of meteorites on the earth through our terrestrial 

 atmosphere ; but the different departments of natural science referring to 

 meteors and meteorites are of so manifold a nature, that I frequently was 

 obliged to advert to some of them in regard to which I should rather have 

 kept more on the reserve. But the whole range of meteor- and meteorite- 

 science, continually enlarging, more and more clearly presents itself in these 

 four grand sections : — 1st, the original formation of meteorites ; 2nd, their 

 movement through cosmic space ; 3rd, their arrival through the atmosphere 

 upon our earth ; and, 4th, the studies instituted on the objects themselves, 

 which fall into our hands and are preserved in our museums. To the third 

 of these sections it is that my particular attention was directed. 



* "Eeitrage zur Kenntniss der Sternschnuppen, von dem c. M. Dr. Edmund Weiss. 

 Vorgelegt in der Sitzung am 16. Janner 1868," Sitzungsberichte der Math.-nat, Classe 

 der Kais. Akademie der Wissenschaften, Ivii. Band ii. Abtk. 5. pp. 281-342. 



