Biela's Comet
a comet which took its name from Major Biela of the Austrian army, who traced it out in 1826 and furnished such data regarding its movements as to convince the other astronomers of his day that he had a proprietary right to it. The same comet had been noticed on March 8, 1772, and again in 1805. It was reckoned that the comet had passed its perihelion six times between the two periods without being detected by the astronomers. On another visit it passed out of sight on Jan. 3, 1833. Its next appearance was in July, 1839. It was found again late in November, 1845, when it was discovered to have divided into two parts. Late in August, 1852, the larger part came into view and three weeks later the smaller, now much fainter than its former companion, was seen about a million miles in the lead. From this time it has not been seen. Astronomers looked for the reappearance of this stream of meteors Nov. 13-14, 1899, but were disappointed, only a few stray meteors putting in an appearance. BIELOZERO (Polish, the white lake), a lake 25 miles long by 20 miles broad, in the province of Novgorod, Russia; named from its milky appearance, caused by the wash of the chalk formation of its bed. It has an outlet into the Volga by the river Sheksua.
BIELSHÖHLE (bēlsʼhe-la), a stalactite cavern in the Harz Mountains, on the right bank of the Bode. It was discovered about 1672, but first made accessible in 1788. Its entrance is 108 feet above the bed of the stream; and its total length is 230 yards.
BIENNE (bē-en'), or BIEL, a town of Switzerland, canton of Bern, 16 miles N. W. of Bern, beautifully situated at the N. end of the lake of the same name, and at the foot of the Jura. Pop. about 25,000. The lake is about 10 miles long by 3 broad. It receives the waters of Lake Neufchâtel by the Thiel and discharges itself into the Aar.