54 RECORDS 



disk, the "canals" of Mars. This was the work of Schiapa- 

 relli. 



The maps of the third group are differentiated by a similar 

 system of "canals " in the dark regions. This is the work since 

 Schiaparelli. It has resulted in a complete change in the belief 

 as to the character of these "seas" ; the permanency of the 

 lines showing that the background must be land not water. 



Inspection of the series results in three directions : 



That the whole series are in fundamental agreement. The 

 basic features appear directly throughout the first period, and as 

 a groundwork upon which subsequently discovered detail is im- 

 printed in the second and third. 



The second deduction from these data is that the almost in- 

 conceivable regularity in the " canals " was an evolution in per- 

 ception forced upon Schiaparelli by the objects themselves ; not 

 a feature imputed by him to them. His first map in 1877 

 showed them as arms or inlets of the sea penetrating the con- 

 tinents to great distances, but not characterized by remark- 

 able regularity of form. His second map in 1879, shows 

 them narrower, straighter, and in every way more peculiar. His 

 third map, in 1882, presents them as of geometric precision ; as 

 he himself remarks, as if laid down by rule and compass. His 

 fourth map shows that they afterward kept such a character. 



Had this precision been of his devising, they should not have 

 gained in it as time went on and as his eye grew versed in de- 

 cipherment. That they did so, implies that the recognition was 

 forced upon him from without. 



The third deduction is that the evolution in detail marks the 

 series, and can be traced steadily on from the beginning to the 

 end. The additions made in each period find themselves super- 

 posed upon the work of the period before. Similarly each map 

 of any given period adds to its predecessor and is corroborated 

 and extended by its successor. Thus a chain of evidence is 

 made by them whose strength depends upon this very inter- 

 twining of results. 



S. A. Mitchell, 



Secretary. 



