Muneum. 53 



by an atmosphere of cooler vapours — as is proved by the spectrum 

 with dark lines — and a gaseous mass, which causes the gaseous 

 spectrum of bru/ht hnes, and which, there is some reason to believe, 

 must consist of hydrogen. 



" The character of the spectrum of this star," continues the 

 author, " taken in connection with its sudden outburst in bril- 

 lianci/, and its rapid decline in brightness, suggest to us the 

 rather bold s])eculation, that, in consequence of some vast convul- 

 sion taking place in this object, large quantities of gas have been 

 evolved from it, that the hydrogen present is burning by combina- 

 tion with some other element, and furnishes the light represented 

 by the bright lines ; also that the flaming gas has heated to vivid 

 incandescence the solid matter of the photosphere. As the hydrogen 

 becomes exhausted, all the phenomena diminish in intensity, and 

 the star rapidly wanes." 



The President mentioned that some very remarkable new stars, 

 which had subsequently disappeared, were observed in the six- 

 teenth and seventeenth century ; especially one observed by Tycho 

 Brahe in Cassiopeia in 157'2, which led him to prophecy the advent 

 of some great northern conqueror — a prophecy afterwards applied 

 to Gustavus Adolphus. 



[The paper in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, from 

 which the above quotations are made, concludes with the important 

 observation, " that hydrogen probably plays an important part in 

 the differences of physical constitution, which apparently separate 

 the stars into groups, and possibly also in the changes by which 

 these differences may be brought about."] 



MUSEUM. 



The following presents, among others, have been offered to the 

 School through the Harrow Scientific Society. They will remain 

 in the Society's charge until there is some place to receive them. 



A collection of Mineralogical Specimens, scientifically arranged. 



Da. W. Bruce Jot. 



A collection of Flint Implements, illustrative of the " Stone Period," 

 from St. Acheul, Pressigny, Denmark, and various English 

 localities . . . . . . Rev. F. W. Farrar. 



