412 
REPORT— 1854. 
absence of the moon since, in the course of which some very important 
features have presented themselves: the apex has very steadily advanced 
along the ecliptic, and the phaenomenon has increased in brilliancy with alter¬ 
nations. When 1 first observed it, the apex coincided with the position of 
Saturn ; last evening, the luminous triangle being very distinct, the light 
stronger than I had before observed it, and forming a rather conspicuous 
object in the west, the apex was observed about 29° V- This progression is 
rather less than the sun's daily change of place in the ecliptic. The position 
which the phenomenon now occupies may be thus marked out; a line pass¬ 
ing from 29° V near and to the south of y Pegasi. leaving « PegSad more to 
the north than y, and meeting the horizon about one-quarter point north of 
VV. by N., will indicate the upper or northern edge. A line drawn from 
the apex 29° T near to and to the south of Saturn, will point out the lower 
or southern edge. It will be observed from this description, that the mill) 
body of the light is seen from this observatory between Saturn and •/ Pfgwi, 
and nearly filling that space ; the axis may be described by a line P ass ' 1 ^ 
from 29° Tpnst e and o Piscis, crossing the equinoctial colure at h nnttli 
dec., and meeting the equinoctial about 340° At . Such is the general po¬ 
tion which the luminous triangle now occupies, and it was not very materia y 
different on the evening of the 7th. When Mr. Reade observed it, * |C * VI 
dently saw a similar appearance to that which I observed, but it wits in a 
different position; instead of the upper or northern edge cutting the horiZ"' 
at W. by N., the lower or southern edge rose from this point, so that the w 0 ■ 
body ol light was seen more northerly at Stone by its own breadth ; , ' s 
very remarkable: Mr. Read® has sent me a drawing of the triangle. no 
winch it appears that the apex was seen between the. stars a Andrometlis 
y Pegasi; the upper edge passed very near but to the north of />; 
f. anc * the lower very near indeed to « Pegasi. Mr. Reade * 0 • 
tions are corroborated by those of Mr. Grace, who saw the phsnomeno 
the evening of the 6th; he observed the apex in the square of 
Hus large displacement for so small a distance between the. static • 
important in tracing out the cause of the phenomenon, and it i w0 “ l ,«v 
desirable to augment the number of stations in March, if (af ll JfJ ' n 
absent* e ^ lriHnsle 8hould appear in the early part wheu the 
Mr. Birt adds a conjectural suggestion that this beam may be 
ance of part of a ring of cosmical matter reflecting the sun * ra )'J , 
the plane of the earth’s orbit at about the same angle as the eq ^ 
laving its node situated near the first point of Aries, no ^of 
rth s path at that point, but approaching it most nearly towar^ ,ht 
Aquarius, or in the beginning of August; tit which time lie point ^ 
direction of a line from the earth coinciding with the direction ot ^ 
posed ring, i e . nearly parallel to the equator, will point to the c °"' jtion3 > 
Cassiopeia through Perseus and Capella. These hypothetical i»nd b , f 
th nks, all concur m pointing to this ring of cosmical matter as tn 1 ^ 
the August star-showers; while similar considerations* 
zoaiacal beam, would connect that with the November period. 
No. \l.—Extract of a letter from Mr. Easel accompanying his 
“ j* ie enclosed observations of luminous meteors were witue^O 
myself and the Rev. J.B. Reade; being the continuation o Mb fl0t for 
to you in September last. The list is not very extensive, but it 
