1875.] The Atmospheres of the Planets. 449 
During the past fifteen years there has been a tendency, 
which is now rapidly increasing, for the best endowed and 
the best cultured minds of our colleges to enter other pro- 
fessions, and the ministry has been losing while medicine, 
business, and science have been gaining. 
4. Their superior temperance and morality.—Clergymen are 
more regular in their sleep, meals, and exercise than any 
other intellectual class; and are less exposed to injurious 
influences and contagious diseases than some other occupa- 
tions. Very rarely, indeed, does a clergyman become grossly 
intemperate, or addicted to gambling, or to the exclusive 
and injurious pursuit of any animal pleasure. 
III. ON THE CONDITION OF THE ATMOSPHERES 
OF THE PLANETS. 
By E. NErson, F.R.A.S., &c. 
of the solar system is a question of peculiar interest, 
for until these are thoroughly realised it is impossible 
to properly interpret the numerous observations of the physical 
condition of the planets. Moreover, seeing that in the great 
majority of cases, the observations deal only with variations 
in the appearance of the planet, and that these must arise 
almost entirely from atmospheric changes, the important 
bearings of the conditions regulating these is at once 
manifested. 
The question of the height of the atmospheric envelope 
of the four great planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and 
Neptune, derives peculiar interest from the influence it 
possesses over the physical constitution of the planet itself. 
It is known that the mean densities of these four greater 
members of the solar system are all very small, being in no 
case much greater than that of water, this peculiarity being 
of great interest and considerable importance in considering 
the probable physical constitution of these planets. It has 
long been suggested that this may be only apparent for the 
diameter of these planets measured, being that of the upper 
cloud-bearing strata of their atmospheres; if this be of great 
depth and yet of moderate density, the actual solid planet 
may possess a much greater mean density. If it be supposed 
A Soa atmospheric conditions prevailing upon the planets 
