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play. The diagram (fig. 5) gives the positions of eighty- six 
paths conforming to this radiant, observed at Bristol, and at 
several foreign stations in September. 
The ordinary designation of Perseids for the special meteor 
shower of August 10, is always understood in its individual 
application, though it must not be supposed that this is the 
only shower of Perseids visible in that month. The fact is, 
there are many separate showers directed from that constellation 
early and late in August, so that we require some distinguishing 
titles or symbols to conveniently particularize either of them 
which it may be necessary to refer to. The method now 
adopted of naming the chief periodical showers by the constel- 
lations in which their radiant points are situated, is very 
appropriate ; and such displays as the Orionids, Leonids, and 
Geminids, have become so well known by their titles, that it 
would be unwise and inconsistent to attempt reform. But with 
regard to the minor systems, which are becoming very numerous, 
and require an equally ready mode of expression, there is a 
great difficulty in avoiding complications. 
There are certainly five nearly sinudtaneous showers of 
Perseids early in August ; and in every month of the year, 
except May and June, meteors continue to fall from that 
constellation. If the present mode is adopted of styling them 
Perseids I, Perseids II, and so on progressively, a good deal of 
confusion must eventually arise as new systems are discovered ; 
and this classification by Roman numbers, however appropriate 
it may be in some of its other applications, will have to give 
way to a more distinguishing means of reference. The name at 
present only gives indication of the constellation from which the 
meteors emanate, without regard to the date or approximate 
place of the radiant, and it seems to me that the difficulty may 
be obviated by including the nearest fixed star and the epoch 
with that name. To render the proposal clear let us take the 
different streams proceeding from the undermentioned points in 
Perseus : in August 44° + 56°, 32°+ 53°, 61°-f36°, 61° + 48°, 
46° + 47°, which may be thus termed : — 
7} Perseids (Aug. 10). 
X Perseids (Aug. 1-3). 
e Perseids (Aug.). 
fi Perseids (Aug.). 
a Perseids (Aug.). 
This is apparently a preferable method to that of Perseids I, II, 
III, I Y, and Y, which must occasion endless trouble in references 
to find what special stream is meant. Moreover the numbers 
seem only in fair application when affixed progressively to the 
