194 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
observations of these objects, tabulating the number, height, and width of 
the prominences observed in different solar latitudes during nine complete 
solar rotations. He finds that there are two principal maxima of frequency, 
placed between 20° and 30° of north latitude, and between 10° and 30° of 
south latitude ; and two secondary maxima between 70° and 80° in each 
hemisphere. In successive rotations there is no trace of a progressive motion 
of the principal maxima towards the poles, as had been suspected. Where 
the prominences are most numerous they are most lofty, and have their 
widest extent (notwithstanding the circumstance that occasionally we re- 
cognise narrow and isolated prominences reaching to a great height.) Com- 
paring with these results the observed distribution of faculse, Secchi finds 
that the regions richest in faculse coincide with the regions where the pro- 
minences have their maximum height and width. Among 893 prominences 
which he observed, 471 were found to have a well-marked slope, resembling 
inclined plumes $ of these 370 were inclined in agreement with the law of 
movement of the solar atmosphere, and only 101 were sloped in the contrary 
direction ; 40 were vertical at the poles and equator. u Comparing this 
result,” says Secchi , u with that mentioned in former communications, we see 
that it cannot be accidental. I see that M. Sporer has arrived at the same 
result later. I may remark here that during the epochs of greatest activity 
the law is more constant and decided.” 
The November Meteors . — After all, it would appear that the end of this 
meteor stream has not been reached. The fact that no meteors appeared on 
the morning of the 16th was simply due to a displacement of the zone 
accompanied by a spreading out of the system of meteors. The following 
list of meteors, observed at Alexandria on the night between November 14 
and 15, serves to show that many meteors of the system still remained : — 
Between 10 
and 
11 
p.m.. 
, November 14, 
3 meteors 
11 
11 
n 
12 
ii 
ii 
6 
ii 
n 
12 
n 
1 
a.m., 
November 15, 
19 
ii 
n 
1 
n 
2 
ii 
ii 
23 
ii 
11 
2 
n 
3 
ii 
ii 
84 
ii 
11 
3 
11 
4 
ii . 
ii 
100 
ii 
n 
4 
n 
5 
ii 
ii 
95 
ii 
Total 330 
As the sky was at no time clear, this result shows that a real meteoric 
shower was in progress. “It appears,” says Professor Denza, who reported 
the observations made at several Italian and Mediterranean stations, “ that 
the 15th was the true date of the passage of the November stream ; so that 
it was later by a whole day than in former years. Nevertheless the meteor- 
cloud has appeared not only to be less dense, but displaced from its usual 
position, perturbed and irregular, and, as it were, a tenuous tail behind the 
more densely crowded central group.” He quotes Schiaparelli as having men- 
tioned that in 1818, or midway between the great displays of 1799 and 1833, 
a fine shower took place. Mr. Glaisher must, therefore, not suffer his band 
of observers to rest as he has proposed, but, on the contrary, should extend 
their nights of watchfulness over a longer period. 
The Sun Spot Period,— Messrs. De La Hue, Stewart, and Loewy, have pub- 
