304 
EASTMAN. 
gives the information that the light is derived from a gas or 
vapor. From our constant experience with solid masses of 
stone and iron on the surface of the earth and under the 
unobstructed influence of the sun, it is impossible to see how 
the sun’s heat alone can produce gas or vapor from such 
bodies at the observed distances. 
As the comet approaches the sun the faint diffused mass 
of the body begins to contract, and a point in the mass; gen¬ 
erally nearer the sun than the center, becomes brighter and 
denser, frequently, as it rapidly nears the sun, changing its 
form and brightness in a marked manner from day to day. 
It is not improbable that the solid constituents of mete¬ 
orites would be vaporized if they passed as near the sun as 
did Comet II, 1882; but it is not probable that this change 
does occur at distances greater than the radius of the earth’s 
orbit, if it is effected simply by the action of the sun. 
If the visibility is caused by the assumed enormous change 
of temperature experienced by the solid portion of the comet 
in passing from outer space to the locus of visibility in the 
solar system, then the entire mass of the comet should be 
vaporized and solid meteoric bodies would cease to exist. 
If, on the other hand, this visibility is brought about by 
the effect of this change of temperature on the occluded gases 
stored up in the solid portions of the comet, then during the 
long period in which these masses are subjected to the solar 
action these gases would all be expelled and dissipated and 
none would be found in those meteorites which finally find 
their way to the surface of the earth and into the chemist’s 
laboratory. 
The meteors of the shower of November 27 are scattered 
along the orbit of that stream for at least 500 millions of 
miles. If this elongation of the meteor stream is formed, as 
is highly probable, by the difference in velocity between 
those meteors on that portion nearest the sun and those on 
the outside of the mass, then, if the comet is the meteor-pro¬ 
ducing body, the same action would tend to break it up and 
destroy it early in its existence as a solar satellite. 
