124 SCHIAPARELLI'S LATEST VIEWS REGARDING MARS. 



Aurone Sinus, and tlietwo liorus of tlic Sabieus Sinus are tbus formed, 

 at the mouths of one or more canals, opening' into tlie Mare Erythra-um 

 or into the Mare Australe. The largest example of such a gulf is the 

 Syrtis Major, formed by the vast mouth of the Nilosyrtis, so called. 

 This gulf is not less than 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) iu breadth, and 

 attains nearly the same dejith in a longitudinal direction. Its surftice 

 is little less than that of the Bay of Bengal. In this case we see clearly 

 the dark surface of the sea continued without apparent interruption 

 into that of the canal. Inasmuch as the surfaces called seas are truly a 

 liquid expanse, we can not doubt that the canals are a simple prolonga- 

 tion of tliem, crossing the yellow areas or continents. 



Of the remainder, that the lines called canals are truly great furrows 

 or depressions iu the surface of the planet, destined for the passage of 

 the liquid mass and constituting for it a true hydrographic system, is 

 demonstrated by the phenomena which are observed during the melt- 

 ing of the northern snows. We have already remarked that at the 

 time of melting they appeared surrounded by a dark zone, forming a 

 species of temporary sea. At that time the canals of the surrounding 

 region become blacker and wider, increasing to the point of convert- 

 ing at a certain time all of the yellow region comprised between the 

 edge of the snow and the i>arallel of (iO"^ north latitude into numerous 

 islands of small extent. Such a state of things does not cease until the 

 snow, reduced to its minimum area, ceases to melt. Then the breadth 

 of the canals diminishes, the temporary sea disappears, and the yellow 

 region again returns to its former area. The different i)hases of these 

 vast phenomena are renewed at each return of the seasons, and we 

 were able to observe them in all their particulars very easily during 

 the oppositions of 1882, 1884, and 1880, when the planet presented its 

 northern pole to terrestrial spectators. The most natural and the 

 most simple interpretation is that to which we have referred, of a 

 great inundation produced by the melting of the snows; it is entirely 

 logical and is sustained by evident analogy with terrestrial phenomena. 

 We conclude, therefore, that the canals are such in fact and not only 

 in name. Tlie network formed by these was probably determined in 

 its origin in the geological state of the planet, and has come to be 

 slowly elaborated in the course of centuries. It is not necessary to 

 suppose them the work of intelligent beings, and, notwithstanding tlie 

 almost geometrical appearance of all of their system, we are now 

 inclined to believe them to be produced by the evolution of the planet, 

 just as on the earth we have the English Channel and the channel of 

 Mozambique. 



It would be a problem not less curious than complicated and difficult 

 to study the system of this immense stream of water, upou which per- 

 haps depends principally the organic life upon the planet, if organic 

 life is found there. The variations of their appearance demonstrated 

 that this system is not constant. VVlieii they become displaced or 



