[134] Pages 207 and 208.
III. NATURAL HISTORY. [◊]
1. Squalls of Wind on the African Shores.
2. Destruction of an Oak by Lightning.
3. Description of a Meteoric Fire-Ball seen at New Haven by the Rev. S. E. Dwight.
i. The meteor was at first about 35° above the horizon, and, judging from the course of a fence near at hand, its direction about N. 20°. E.
ii. Its figure nearly that of an ellipse, with the ends in a slight degree sharpened or angular.
iii. The length of its transverse diameter appeared to be about equal to the apparent diameter of the moon when on the meridian, and that of the conjugate about three fourths of the transverse.
iv. The colour rather more yellow than that of the moon.
v. A tail of light, ten or twelve degrees in length, was formed behind it; broadest near the body; decreasing in breadth very slowly for about two-fifths of its length, after which it was uniform, and about as wide as the apparent diameter of Venus. The direction of the tail was coincident with that of the transverse diameter.