1878. J 
The British Association . 
523 
Mr. James Glaisher read the “ Report of the Committee on 
Luminous Meteors.” It contained an account of meteors 
doubly observed, with a table showing their real paths, velo- 
cities, and radiant points ; a detailed account of large me- 
teors ; general directions to observers for recording meteors 
and aerolites ; the discussion of a meteor of short period, and 
an analysis of the constituents of masses of meteoric iron 
and stone-falls. 
Lord Rosse gave a short explanation of the peculiarities 
of an equatorial mounting recently erected at Parsonstown, 
showing the points in which it differed from the ordinary 
type of mounting. The optical arrangements were exactly 
the same as in ordinary cases. The old mounting at Parsons- 
town, being made of wood, fell into decay, and he resolved 
to replace it by metal, and mount the instrument equatorially. 
The leading peculiarities of the mounting were, that the 
points of reversal were situated at the east and west, instead 
of at the north and south. The bearings on which the in- 
strument turned in right ascension were smaller than in the 
ordinary mountings. The motions in declination and in 
right ascension were effected by means of screws, so that on 
a windy night the instrument could not run away with the 
observer. The tube was square. The clock was connected 
by means of a stretched strap of brass, and the gallery was 
quite unique. The counterpoise was less than usual. The 
only reflector of a similar size mounted equatorially was 
that constructed by Mr. Grubb for the Melbourne Govern- 
ment ; but its drawback was that just as the observer had 
moved it to the very best position for observation— namely, 
the south— it had to be reversed and every connection altered. 
The gallery was also worked by means of screws, so that 
there was no danger of the observer coming down quicker 
than he wished. The tube was square in section. The cage 
was independent of the mounting, moving on a circular rail, 
and with a second motion like that of a derrick crane. The 
mounting was only suitable for a reflecting telescope. 
Prof. R. S. Ball read a paper “ On the Annual Researches 
made at Dunsink on Parallax of Stars.” Before com- 
mencing the observations described and tabulated in the 
paper a working list was formed, containing red stars, 
variable stars, stars with large proper motions, and several 
other stars which were chosen on different grounds. The 
observations had the special objeCt of seeing whether any 
of them had a large parallax. Forty-two different objects 
had been selected from this working list, but in almost every 
