Royal Astronomical Society. 237 



or tubular vacancies whose terminations are rendered nebulous by 

 the effect of their exceeding distance, and at the same time are 

 brought by that of perspective to constitute the interior borders of 

 the apparent vacuities. It is possible that the globular clusters we 

 see scattered over it are nothing more than such masses in a higher 

 state of aggregation, to which perhaps the others are by slow degrees 

 advancing. Yet in that case we should certainly be prepared to ex- 

 pect specimens of an intermediate character to occur in considerable 

 numbers, scattered among them, whereas, in fact, it would be diffi- 

 cult to particularize any objects in the region in question which can 

 be quite fairly so considered. The intermediate stages of central 

 condensation between the highly compressed globular cluster, and 

 the dilute and nearly uniform nebuloid patch, if not altogether want- 

 ing, are, at all events, feebly represented." — P. 390. 



In the 3rd Section mention is made of a phenomenon sometimes 

 observed in the course of sweeping, which seems to indicate the exist- 

 ence of starry regions of great extent and excessive remoteness, not 

 in traceable connexion with the Milky Way, except in some parti- 

 cular localities, yet possibly outlying portions of that system. It 

 consists in " an exceedingly delicate and uniform dotting or stippling 

 of the field of view by points of light too small to admit of any one 

 being steadily and fixedly viewed, and too numerous for counting 

 were it possible so to view them." Sir John states that he always 

 felt satisfied of the reality of the phenomenon at the moment of 

 observation ; but the conviction was not permanent, the idea of illu- 

 sion continually arose subsequently, partly from the extreme delicacy 

 of the points of light, but chiefly from the circumstance, that when 

 noticed it was almost invariably soon after the commencement of the 

 sweeping. But he thought it right, notwithstanding the doubt, not 

 to suppress all mention of the phenomenon, " which, if it arise from 

 physiological causes, is at least curious and remarkable as a case of 

 optical illusion." A list is given of the places in the heavens where 

 it was remarked, and another of places where the ground of the sky 

 was recorded as particularly black, and certainly devoid of any such 

 stippling or nebulous appearance ; and some details are added with 

 the view of throwing further light on the subject. 



The chapter closes with a reference to one of the plates, repre- 

 senting the course and aspect of the Milky Way from Antinous to 

 Monoceros, delineated with as much precision as the nature of such 

 work admits, that is, with the naked eye by faint lamp-light in the 

 open air. The differences in some very obvious features between 

 this and former representations of the same portion of the heavens 

 are sufficiently remarkable. 



XXXVI. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



[Continued from p. 162.] 



March 10, f\N the Interior Satellites of Uranus. By the Rev. W. 

 1848, " R.Dawes. 

 In the Monthly Notices for January last were printed some obser- 



