115 



condensation was not in the centre of the nebulosity, but 

 towards the north following side. The tapering elongation 

 of last night was now a narrow 

 and slightly fan-shaped tail of 

 21 degrees in length, but appa- 

 rently separated from the nebu- 

 losity of the head by a remark- 

 able and comparatively dark 

 interval, as shown in the sketch 

 which accompanies this paper. 

 The point of origin of this sin- 

 gular tail was estimated to be 

 from 12 to 15 minutes distant 

 from the centre of the head, 

 and its breadth at this part was 

 about 4i minutes, and at its 

 extremity about 15 minutes. 

 Its axis was perfectly straight, 

 and its brightness was greatest 

 at the narrow end, where it 

 was equal to that of the nebu- 

 losity of the head at two-thirds 

 of the radius from the centre. 



May 5th. At lOh. I6m. 

 59*7s. G.M.T., six comparisons 

 with Lalandes 191G8 gave the 

 comet's apparent place R.A. 

 9h. 39m. 37-82s. Dec. + 41° 

 2 P 34-5". 



^J'he sky to-night was not 

 very favourable for the obser- 

 vation of faint objects, but the 

 general features of the comet 

 did not appear to have under- 

 gone any material change. Last 



COMET I, 1861, 



A.S SEEN WITH Mk. WoBTBTNGTON'S 



13-INCH Rkflectou, May 4ih. 



