C 26 5 ] 
and therefore meeting with more refinance from the 
air ; in the fame manner as the flame, the fparks, 
and fmoak, of a torch are feen to follow it. All this is 
plain j but, in regard to that feparation of the third part 
of the tail from the reft, a circumftance clearly de- 
fcribed by the farmer at Ancram, and feemingly con- 
firmed by other obfervations, there may be fome 
difficulty. Perhaps at this period, upon a greater 
exploflon in the ball, moft of the combuftible matter 
was thrown out at once, which falling behind, occa- 
floned that appearance of the breaking off a part of 
the tail, whilft, for want of fuel, the remainder va- 
nifhed, or, as the obferver exprefles it, was collected 
into the head. This account is rendered more pro- 
bable, by what is faid of the emiflion of a greater 
light about this time, and by the loud report heard 
by the farmer five minutes after, and which, upon 
computing the diftance, ought to have reached him 
much about that time, had it been occafioned by this 
extraordinary burfting and difperflon of the inflam- 
mable matter. 
The hiding noife, taken notice of by fome while 
the meteor pafled them, was a deception of that kind, 
which frequently connects found with motion ; and 
is the cafe of thofe who fancy they hear fomething, 
when they fee the fhootings of the aurora borealis ; 
I fay a deception, becaufe if the meteor, during its 
courfe, really made any noife, fo great was the dif- 
tance of that body, and fo fhort its continuance, that 
this found could not have been heard till fome mi- 
nutes after the return of darknefs. But the final re- 
port, fo frequently mentioned, not only heard by 
thofe who faw the light, but by others who knew 
Vol. LI. Mm nothing 
