466 Prof. J. Norman Lockyer. [Feb. 25, 



which is characteristic of the white stars, bright, with dark absorp- 

 tion lines on the blue side. 



Besides the hydrogen series there appear to be other lines doubled 

 in a similar manner, including the sodium lines at D. The line K, 

 which is at least as strongly impressed upon the plate as H, is not 

 followed by so strong an absorption. 



In the green part of the spectrum three very brilliant lines are seen 

 on the red side of F. One of these falls not far from the position of 

 the chief nebular line; but even when the shift of the spectrum is 

 taken into account, we can scarcely regard this line as the true 

 nebular line. In this connexion it was a point of some importance 

 to find that the strong and very characteristic line of the Orion 

 nebula, which falls about X 3725, is absent in our photograph of the 

 Nova, also the strong line between a. and /3 at about X 3868. 



[The third line from F is rather broad and resolvable into lines. 

 It falls partly upon the more refrangible pair of the magnesium 

 triplet at 6, but its character and position do not permit us to ascribe 

 it either to magnesium or carbon. Feb. 25.] 



We wish to mention an early photograph of this star taken on the 

 3rd instant by Father Sidgreaves, at Stonyhurst, which we had the 

 privilege of examining. This successful photograph extends from 

 about h to near D, and shows the remarkable doubling of manj of 

 the bright lines by dark ones, a feature which was at once noticed by 

 Father Sidgreaves and ourselves. 



In our photograph the spectrum of the star, -which extends on the 

 plate as far into the ultra-violet as our photographs of Sirius, is 

 crowded throughout its entire length with dark and bright lines. In 

 the visible region the number of bright lines and groups, including 

 the double line of sodium, a fine line about the position of D 3 , and 

 lines on both sides of C, is also very great. 



We prefer in this preliminary note not to enter into any more de- 

 tailed discussion of the star's spectrum, nor to refer to the probable 

 phenomena which may now be in progress in this celestial body. We 

 reserve these considerations for the present. 



II. " Note on the New Star in Auriga." By J. NORMAN 

 LOCKYER, F.R.S. Received February 25, 1892. 



Since my note of February 11, observations of the new star have 

 only been possible at Kensington on seven evenings, namely, 

 February 11, 12, 13, 16, 22, 23, and 24. The 13th and 22nd were 

 the only two very fine nights. 



The star now appears to be fading. In the photograph of the 

 region taken on February 3 the Nova appeared to be brighter than 



