Scientific Intelligence. — Geography . 359 
8. Luminous Meteor. — On the 2d of January 1825, about 
5 a. m., M. Antonio Brucalassi, on his return to Arezzo, ob- 
served, between S. Giovanni and Montevarchi, a singular elec- 
tric phenomenon. About a hundred paces off, and at the height 
of ten fathoms, or less, from the ground, appeared, on a sudden, 
a luminous meteor, of the form of a truncated cone. This 
meteor appeared to be formed by a globe of fire situated in its 
fore part, which was the narrower, and which, by its rapid mo- 
tion, left behind a track of light, which gave it the appearance 
of a cone. This light became gradually less intense towards 
the base, and seemed to be split into rays issuing from the oppo- 
site extremity. The whole surface of the cone was illuminated, 
and cast out sparks of the greatest brilliancy, in brightness like 
the electric sparks, but in the effect resembling those exhibited 
by filings of iron, when thrown upon the flame of a candle. 
The whole length of the meteor appeared to be about two fa- 
thoms, and the diameter of the base half a fathom. At the 
centre of this base, there was a total absence of light, which 
formed in that part a dark spot. The direction of its motion 
was from west to east, and nearly horizontal, inclining, however, 
a little towards the earth. Its motion was very rapid ; for in 
less than five seconds it traversed a space of about 350 paces. 
During this passage it shed a most brilliant light, so that a cer- 
tain extent of land was illuminated, as in full day-light. The 
emanations of this luminous body were lost in the air, instead of 
being extinguished in the ground ; it left behind no smell ; pro- 
duced no explosion or noise of any kind, not even that hissing 
made by artificial fire-works. The night in which this pheno- 
menon occurred was calm, but very cold, and the sky clear. A 
great number of shooting stars were seen before and after the 
appearance of the meteor.- — Antologia , Feb. 1825. 
GEOGRAPHY. 
9. Edinburgh Geographical and Historical Atlas. — In our 
notice of this work in a former Number, we stated, incorrectly, 
that the letter-press was in octavo, whereas it is in folio. Two 
numbers have appeared, in which the learning and good sense 
displayed by the author in his history of Geography, augur 
well for the success of the work. We hope the author will, 
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