In addition to the meteors originating from systematic showers, there are also to be noted frequent and sometimes very brilliant single meteors. Specimens of these have in many instances been obtained. They fall into three classes--'Those in which iron is found in considerable amount are termed siderites; those containing an admixture of iron and stone, siderolites; and those consisting almost entirely of stone are known as aerolites' (Denning). The mass of some of these bodies is very considerable. Swords have been forged out of their iron, one of which is in the possession of President Diaz of Mexico, while diamonds have been found in meteoric irons which fell in Arizona. It may be interesting to know that, according to a grave decision of the American courts, a meteor is 'real estate,' and belongs to the person on whose ground it has fallen; the alternative--that it is 'wild game,' and the property of its captor--having been rejected by the court. So far as I am aware, the legal status of these interesting flying creatures has not yet been determined in Britain. The department of meteoric astronomy is one in which useful work can be done with the minimum of appliances. The chief requisites are a good set of star-maps, a sound knowledge of the constellations, a straight wand, and, above all, patience. The student must make himself familiar with the constellations (a pleasant task, which should be part of everyone's education), so that when a meteor crosses his field of view he may be able to identify at once with an approach to accuracy its points of appearance and disappearance. It is here that the straight wand comes into play. Mr. Denning advises the use of it as a means of guiding the eye. It is held so as to coincide with the path of the meteor just seen, and will thus help the eye to estimate the position and slope of the track relatively to the stars of the constellations which it has crossed. This track should be marked as quickly as possible on the charts. Mere descriptions of the appearance of meteors, however beautiful, are quite valueless. It is very interesting to be told that a meteor when first seen was 'of the size and colour of an orange,' but later 'of the apparent size of the full moon, and surrounded by a mass of glowing vapour which further increased its size to that of the head of a flour-barrel'; but the description is scarcely marked by sufficient precision of statement for scientific purposes. The observer must note certain definite points, of which the following is a summary: (1) Date, hour, and minute of appearance. (2) Brightness, compared with some well-known star, planet, or, if exceptionally bright, with the moon. (3) Right ascension and declination of point of first appearance. (4) The same of point of disappearance. (5) Length of track. (6) Duration of visibility. (7) Colour, presence of streak or train, and any other notable features. (8) Radiant point.