studded part of tlie ring is swept into the earth/ s atmosphere. 
As a period of maximum star-falling occurs about the 13th 
and 14th of November in periods of thirty-three years, this 
period gives the clue as to the period when the ring approaches 
most nearly the earth'’ s orbit, and also accounts for the maxi- 
mum showers being manifested in less intensity a year or two 
before and after these periods, and not in the interval between. 
The coincidence of last year’s display has been everywhere 
quoted as a triumphant demonstration by mathematical calcu- 
lation of the truth of this whole theory.- I call that a coinci- 
dence, for which we may more fairly perhaps be indebted to 
the law of probability than to any more abstruse calculation of 
the retrogression of the nodes of the assumed ring of planetoids. 
For in the first place the number of recorded recurrences of fall- 
ing stars on these period-days is far too small to found so great 
a theory, when we consider that they are merely maximum 
manifestations of a nightly phenomenon of greater or lesser in- 
tensity. That the recurrence of the 33-year period has but three 
occurrences in its favour, — the years 1799, 1832, and 1866, 
even making allowance for an increase of a year for the last 
display; the star-storm of 1799, which has been imported 
into this periodical display, being, as I have before observed, 
a mistake, as it occurred not in November, but in the month 
of October. On the other hand, within these limits the great 
November showers of 1787 and 1822, as well as many others of 
less brilliancy, cannot be brought within the period of the thirty- 
three years. Again, the ancient October displays, which have 
been regarded as a proof of the gradual alteration of the 
planetary ring’s intersection of the earth’s orbit, are more 
readily accounted for without this alteration as being connected 
with that of 1799. If the planetary origin of falling stars is 
to be made out, it can only be demonstrated by a much larger 
collection of facts than have yet been observed. 
Again, the inclusion of the meteorites and flaming meteors 
or fire-balls in this planetary theory, only tends to throw 
doubt upon the theory. 
In the first place the passage of fiery meteors in the lower 
atmosphere coursing over the earth, and then exploding, or of 
clouds casting stones to the earth, has never yet been found 
to accompany the great displays of falling stars. Both these 
phenomena seem destitute of any period- days whatever. Nor 
yet has the connection of flaming, bursting meteors with the 
fall of meteoric stones been at all made out as conclusive ; out 
of many hundred recorded instances where stones have been 
seen to fall, only some four or five have been shown to be con- 
nected with any appearance of a fire-ball. Even in these 
