418 (ii).

[175] "On July 19, towards the 8th hour of the day, the Sun was so eclipsed that even the stars were visible. But at the same time that the Sun was thus hid, a light, in the form of a cone, was seen in the sky; some ignorant people called it a comet, but in this light we saw nothing that announced a comet, for it was not terminated by a tail: it resembled the flame of a torch, subsisting by itself without any star for its base. Its movement too was very different from that of a comet. It was first seen to the E. of the equinoxes; after that, having passed through the last star in the Bear's tail [probably Ursa Majoris], it continued slowly its journey towards the W. Having thus traversed the heavens, it at length disappeared, having lasted more than 4 months. It first appeared about the middle of the summer, and remained visible until nearly the end of autumn.”—(Philostorgius, Epitome Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ, xii. 8.)

In China this comet was seen on Sept. 15 in Leo: it rose above 8 or ☛ Leonis, and passed through the square of Ursa Major, the circle of perpetual apparition, and near and × (or λ and μ) Ursa Majoris. Its tail, short at first, increased to 10 tchang, or more. (Ma-tuoan-lin.) It was first seen near & Cygni, and was visible for 11 weeks.-(De Mailla, iv. 590.) Couplet states that it appeared in November-December. If for appeared we could read disappeared, Couplet's account would harmonise with those of the other observers.

419.

[176.] On Feb. 17 a comet appeared in the W. of the region lying around ẞ Leonis.-(Ma-tuoan-lin.)

420 or 421.

[177] In May a comet was seen.-(Couplet.) In Europe a wonderful sign appeared in 421.-(Prosperus Tyronus, Chronicon.) Was this "sign" the comet of the Chinese?

422 (i).

[178.] In March a star, with a long white ray, appeared for 10 nights about the time of the cock-crowing.-(Chronicon Paschale.) On March 16 it was B near a and Aquarii.-(Gaubil.) Ma-tuoan-lin dates its appearance for March 21.

422 (ii).

[179.] On Dec. 18 a comet was seen near a and ẞ Pegasi.—(Matuoan-lin.)

423 (i).

[180.] On Feb. 13 a comet was seen near y Pegasi and a Andromedæ. -(Ma-tuoan-lin.) A comet was frequently seen before the death of the

emperor Honorius.-(Marcellinus, Chronicon.) This event happened in August.

423 (ii).

[181.] On Dec. 14 a comet was seen near a and 8 Libræ.-(Matuoan-lin.)

432.

[182] A comet was seen near a and y Leonis; passing in the vicinity of B Leonis, it disappeared near a Boötis.-(Ma-tuoan-lin.) No moon given.

436.

[183] On June 21 a comet was seen near Scorpii.—(Gaubil.)

442.

[184] On Nov. 1 a comet, without a tail, was seen in the square of Ursa Major. It soon threw out a tail, and passing 6, v Ursæ Majoris, through Auriga, p and Tauri, came to Ceti and y, 8, μ Eridani. It disappeared in winter.-(Ma-tuoan-lin; Biot.*) It appeared in December, and remained visible several months.-(Marcellinus, Chronicon; Idatius, Chronicon.)

449.

[185] A comet appeared on Nov. 11 in the vicinity of 8 Leonis.(Ma-tuoan-lin.)

467.

[186.] A comet resembling a trumpet was seen for periods of from 10 to 40 days in the evening sky.-(Chronicon Paschale; Theophanes, Chronographia, p. 99. Paris 1655.)

499.

[187.] A comet appeared previous to the second invasion of Illyria by the Bulgarians.—(Zonaras, Annales, ii. 56. Paris 1686.)

501.

[188.] On Feb. 13 a great star appeared in the horizon. On March 2 a grand comet was visible.—(Ma-tuoan-lin.)

504.

[189.] A great and brilliant star, with a long ray, appeared about the time of the death of Ambrosius Aurelius.-(Galfredus, De Origine et gestis Regum Britanniæ, viii. 4.) It is just possible that this description may refer to the preceding comet. Hind seems to be of this opinion.

507.

[190.] On Aug. 15 a comet was seen in the N. E.-(Gaubil.)

519.

[191.] A "fearful star," with a tail turned towards the W., was seen this year, possibly between October and December.-(Theophanes, Chronographia, p. 142; Malala, Historia Chronica, xvii.)

520.

[192.] On Oct. 7 a comet, bright like fire, was seen in the E. On Nov. 30 it was observed in the morning.-(Gaubil.)

524.

[193] A star was seen for 26 days and nights "above the gate of the palace." (Cedrenus, Compendium Historiarum, p. 365. Paris 1647.)

530 or 531.

[194] A great comet was observed in Europe and China, but accounts differ as to the year, though probably it was 531. "It was a very large and fearful comet," and was seen in the W. for 3 weeks. Its rays extended to the zenith. (Theophanes, Chronographia, p. 154; Malala, Historia Chronica, xviii.) It was observed [? passed] in October from a Boötis to λ, Ursa Majoris.-(De Mailla, v. 299.) Hind thinks that this was Halley's comet. If it arrived in perihelion at the beginning of November it would have occupied the positions given by the historians, and, anyhow, it must have been near perihelion at this time. It is not impossible that there was a comet in each of the above years, a theory which might perhaps remove some of the discrepancies which exist in the assumption that there was only one.

534.

[195] A comet appeared in Leo and Virgo; passing », § Ursæ Majoris, it moved to the square of Pegasus.—(Gaubil.)

556.

[196.] In November a comet, in the form of a lance, extended from E. to W., or from N. to W.-(Malala, Historia Chronica, xviii.) Some writers date this for 555.

560.

[197.] On Oct. 9 a comet, with a tail 4° long, pointing towards the S. W., was seen.-(Gaubil.)

561.*

[198.] On Oct. 8 an extraordinary star was seen in the division of a Crateris.-(Biot.)

563.

[199] A comet, like unto a sword, was seen for a whole year [month].-(Gregorius Turonensis, Historia Francorum, iv.)

565 (i).

[200.] In April-May a comet appeared.-(Ma-tuoan-lin.)

568 (i).

[201.] On July 20 a very brilliant comet was seen in Gemini. It moved towards the E., and stopped 8 "feet" [or degrees?] N. of 6, 7 Cancri on Aug. 18, and then disappeared.-(Ma-tuoan-lin.)

η

575

[202.] On April 27 a comet was seen near Arcturus (a Boötis). -(Ma-tuoan-lin.)

581.

[203.] On Jan. 20 a comet appeared in the S. W.-(Ma-tuoan-lin.)

582.

A comet

[204] In the month of January many prodigies were seen. appeared, situate as it were, in a sort of opening; it shone in the midst of the darkness, sparkled and spread out its tail. From the comet a ray of surprising magnitude emanated, which appeared like the smoke of a conflagration as viewed at a distance. The comet was visible in the W. from the first hour of the night.-(Idatius Episcopus, Chronicon, vi. 14.)

584.

[205.] A comet, like a column of fire suspended in the air, was observed, and a great star appeared above it.—(Chronicon Turonense.)

588.

[206.] On Nov. 22 a comet appeared near 8 Capricorni.-(Matuoan-lin.)

591.

[207] A comet appeared for 1 month.-(Bonfinius, Rerum Hungaricum, I. viii.)

595.

[208.] On Jan. 9 a comet was visible in the sidereal division of Aquarii. It moved by a Aquarii, e Pegasi, towards a Andromeda and a Arietis. (Gaubil; Ma-tuoan-lin; Simocatta, Historia, vii. Paris 1647.)

602.

[209.] A comet, like unto a sword, was seen in this year.—(Theophanes, Chronographia, p. 240.)

About 605 (i).

[210] In April and May a comet was seen.-(Paulus Diaconus, De Gestis Longobardorum, iv. 33.)

About 605 (ii).

[211] In November and December a comet was seen. —(Paulus Diaconus, iv. 34.)

607 (i).

[212] On March 13 a comet was seen in the sidereal division of μ Geminorum, and near v, Ursa Majoris; it passed by K, T, &c. Persei, Auriga, a, ẞ Geminorum, the vicinity of B Leonis, and a Herculis, and stopped after 14 weeks.-(Ma-tuoan-lin.) Probably for Ti-tso (a Herculis) we should read, as Hind suggests, Ou-ti-tso (8 Leonis); and if we suppose the "v and Ursa Majoris" to allude to the place to which the tail extended, this otherwise inconceivable route will appear more reasonable.

On April 4 a great star appeared in the W. It traversed the girdle of Andromeda, and, passing by a Arietis, came to Virgo.-(Gaubil.) The Chinese account refers this to another comet, but Hind thinks "it is more than probable that in the description of these so-called first and second comets of this year, there is some confusion as regards the order in which a single comet may have passed through these sidereal divisions and constellations; or observations of the direction of the tail may be mixed up (as occasionally happens) with the positions of the head.”—(Companion to the Almanac, 1860, p. 85.)

607 (ii).

[213.] On Oct. 21 a comet appeared in "the Southern region;" it was seen in Virgo, and, passing in the vicinity of ẞ Leonis, came to a Herculis : it approached near many constellations, but did not reach the cross of Orion or Gemini.—(Ma-tuoan-lin, who declares this comet to be identical with that of the 4th of April.) For a Herculis, Pingré read ẞ Leonis, as above, and thinks the "European comet or comets of 605 the same as the Chinese comet or comets of 607."-(Comét. i. 327.)

608.

[214] A comet emerged this year from a, ẞ Auriga, and passing v, &c. Ursa Majoris, came to ẞ, 8, π, р Scorpii.—(Ma-tuoan-lin.) This is precisely the path which Halley's comet follows when its PP occurs in October, and as that comet was due about this year, Hind thinks this was it.