100 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



surface of the planet is actually so different from that 

 which I have formerly seen, that there is room for the 

 study of the planet's meteorology.' 



It appears to us that when these remarkable changes 

 are considered in combination with the circumstance 

 that on a priori grounds we should expect the sun to 

 have very little influence on the condition of the 

 planet's atmosphere, the idea cannot but be suggested 

 that the chief source of all this energy resides in the 

 planet itself. The idea may seem startling at a first 

 view, but when once entertained, many arguments will 

 be found to present themselves in its favour. 



For instance, it does not seem to have been noticed, 

 heretofore, as a very remarkable circumstance if the 

 Jovian belts are sun-raised, that they pass round to the 

 nocturnal half of Jupiter and reappear again, with the 

 same general features as before, and this often for 

 weeks at a stretch. Even that remarkable feature 

 whose changes led to the conclusion that mighty hurri- 

 canes were in progress, changed continuously and 

 regularly during the Jovian nights as well as during the 

 Jovian days, for one hundred such days in succession. 

 This is perfectly intelligible if the seat of disturbance 

 is in, the planet itself, but it is perfectly inexplicable 

 (as it seems to me) if the sun occasions all these meteor- 

 ological changes in Jupiter, as he occasions all the 

 changes which take place in our earth's atmosphere. 

 The alternation of day and night, which is one of the 

 most potent of all the circumstances affecting the 

 earth's meteorological condition, appears to have no 



