78 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



other side of the ring, on which the sun was not shining, 

 we found that not only could the dark background of 

 sky be perceived, but that it was possible to recognise 

 the constellations through the Saturnian rings ! But 

 although it may be conceived from this circumstance 

 that the satellites composing even the brightest parts 

 of the rings are not very closely set, yet collisions are 

 very numerous in the brighter zones of the rings. When 

 we were passing through one of these zones the rever- 

 berations were almost continuous, and were at times so 

 tremendous that we could readily understand their 

 being audible even in the dark ring, ten thousand miles 

 away. 



In passing, I must not omit to notice a circumstance 

 which struck us as interesting. When we passed 

 through the rings to a great height above their level, 

 we could readily trace the motions of the satellites 

 composing the rings. But as we approached the level 

 of the rings again, the rapidity of these motions pre- 

 vented us from discerning the separate satellites, unless 

 we chose to follow their course. When we remained 

 still, they flashed past in such sort as to cause the ring 

 to assume the appearance of a network of bright 

 streaks, of greater or less length according to the 

 greater or less rapidity with which the particular satel- 

 lite producing any streak was moving. The continual 

 change of appearance of this network as the several 

 streaks shifted, was one of the most beautiful sights I 

 ever remember to have witnessed. It reminded us in 

 some degree of the appearance presented when a calm 



