THE HORSESHOE NEBULA IN SAGITTARIUS. 269 



social state, which it largely determines the form and actions of 

 government ; the character of the laws ; the relations of classes. 



Such, stated as briefly as consists with clearness, are the leading 

 divisions and subdivisions under which the Comparative Psychology 

 of Man may be arranged. In going rapidly over so wide a field, I 

 have doubtless overlooked much that should be included. Doubtless, 

 too, various of the inquiries named will branch out into subordinate 

 inquiries well worth pursuing. Even as it is, however, the pro- 

 gramme is extensive enough to occupy numerous investigators who 

 may with advantage take separate divisions. 



Though, after occupying themselves with primitive arts and prod- 

 ucts, anthropologists have devoted their attention mainly to the phys- 

 ical characters of the human races, it must, I think, be admitted that 

 the study of these yields in importance to the study of their psychical 

 characters. The general conclusions to which the first set of inqui- 

 ries may lead cannot so much aftect our views respecting the highest 

 classes of phenomena as can the general conclusions to which the second 

 set may lead. A true theory of the human mind vitally concerns us ; 

 and systematic comparisons of human minds, difiering in their kinds 

 and grades, will help us in forming a true theory. Knowledge of the 

 reciprocal relations between the cliaracters of men and the characters 

 of the societies they form must influence profoundly our ideas of polit- 

 ical arrangements. When the interdependence of individual nature 

 and social structure is understood, our conceptions of the changes now 

 taking place, and hereafter to take place, will be rectified. A compre- 

 hension of mental development as a process of adaptation to social con- 

 ditions, which are continually remoulding the mind, and are again 

 remoulded by it, will conduce to a salutary consciousness of the remoter 

 efiects produced by institutions upon character, and will check tlie 

 grave mischiefs which ignorant legislation now causes. Lastly, a right 

 theory of mental evolution as exhibited by humanity at large, giving 

 a key, as it does, to the evolution of the individual mind, must help to 

 rationalize our perverse methods of education, and so to raise intellect- 

 ual power and moral nature. 



-- 



THE HOESESIIOE NEBULA IN SAGITTARIUS. 



By EDWARD S. IIOLDEN, 



PROFESSOR IN THE UNITED STATES NAVAL OBSERVATOEY, WASHINGTON. 



IN the number of The Popular Science Monthly for July, 1874, 

 I gave a brief account of the successive observations of the great 

 nebula of Orion, from 1656 to 1874, and I pointed out how instructive 

 such an historical review was in its bearing upon the improvement of 



