The Great Comet 0/I86I. 279 



present comet, the predominating feature was the straight ray to 

 which the curved tail seemed scarcely more than a wisp-like ap- 

 pendage. 



On further scrutiny with the aid of an opera-glass, two sharply 

 cut and very narrow dark channels, bounding the principal ray, 

 could be traced for ten or fifteen degrees from the nucleus ; while 

 outside of them, on either side, were two additional faint rays. 

 The whole issue of nebulous matter from the nucleus far into the 

 tail was curiously grooved and striated. It was noticed that both 

 the principal ray and the dark channels penetrated within the 

 outline of the curved tail, the latter being clearly separated from 

 the principal ray even to the naked eye by a dark cleft just 

 above their intersection. The well-defined margin of the principal 

 ray admitted of a very exact delineation, even as far as a Ophiu- 

 chi, 100° from its origin. 



On the third, the bright rays and dark channels were traced to 

 a distance of 40*^ from the nucleus, the principal ray to nearly 

 100°. Five or six alternations were distinguished, besides the 

 hazy filaments constituting the curved tail. Some of the streaks 

 could be traced quite up to the nucleus. The rays were not only 

 separated by the dark channel parallel to their axis, but they were 

 disconnected at intervals in the direction of their length. 



On the fourth, there were two or more regions of contrary 

 flexure on the north following margin of the ray, which, in a 

 theoretical point of view, are of very great interest when taken in 

 connection with the direction of the ray almost precisely in a 

 great circle from the sun continued through the nucleus. This 

 peculiarity presented itself still more decisively on the 5th, when 

 the tortuous path of the ray could not be overlooked. 



The very singular aspect of the northern edge of the principal 

 ray for the first thirty or forty degrees of its course, attracted 

 particular attention, and the charts were revised with all possible 

 care. The sky was perfectly clear and the outlines so distinct 

 that there could be no room for doubt as to the reality of the 

 reflexure of the curve. Subsequently on projecting an arc of a 

 great circle from the sun through the nucleus, it was found to lie 

 clearly within the margin of the ray as far as a distance of thirty 

 degrees (30°) from the nucleus, and there was still haziness beyond 

 it almost to the distance of sixty degrees (60°). The charts on 

 other dates indicate similar results, but the data cannot be properly 



