OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. • 183 



finely divided, like certain forms of the cirri clouds of our own atmos- 

 phere. The cloudy appearance of Saturn, of course, is not so easily 

 seen as that of Jupiter. It always requires a good steady night to 

 see it. 



I have never seen the planet striped with a large number of parallel 

 bands, such as some ob-ervers have described. Three or four form the 

 extreme limit. Nor have I seen the bands so conspicuously marked, 

 so regular, so distinct in outline, and so dark ; the equatorial band 

 being always by far the most conspicuous, while the others were barely 

 perceptible. The equatorial belt has always appeared to me to be 

 slightly tinged with a delicate carmine red, very much like the equa- 

 torial belt of Jupiter ; only the pink color of the former is much fainter. 

 In no instance could I compare the color of this band to " brick red," 

 as it is commonly described. 



Like the equatorial belt of Jupiter, that of Saturn is variable in 

 width, and changes its form as well as its position. It is usually com- 

 posed of two grayish irregular bands, forming its limits north and south, 

 between which are seen flocculent pinkish cloud-forms. 



Tlie general color of the planet differs from that of the rings, in 

 being of a slight warm brown in which there is a yellowish tinge. 

 The contrast of color with the rings is better seen by the use of very 

 high powers. 



To conclude: my observations show, — 



I. That the inner margin of the ring B, limiting the outer border 

 of the principal division, has shown on the ansae some singular 

 dark angular forms ; which may be attributed to an irregular 

 and jagged conformation of the inner border of the ring B, 

 either permanent or temporary. 

 II. That the surface of the rings A, B and C, has shown a mottled 

 or cloudy appearance on the ans^e during the last four 

 years. 



III. That the thickness of the system of rings is increasing from the 



inner margin of the dusky ring to the outer border of the 

 ring C, as proved by the form of the shadow of the planet 

 thrown upon the rings. 



IV. That the cloud-forms seen near the outer border of the ring O 



attain different heights, and change their relative position, 

 either by the rotation of the rings upon an axis, or by some 

 local cause ; as indicated by the rapid changes in the inden- 

 tation of the shadow of the planet. 



