312 COSMOS. 



his having employed reflectors of equal powers in both 

 hemispheres), indicates, at least, a striking difference in the 

 nature and cosmical position of nebulas, that is to say, in 

 reference to the directions in which they present themselves 

 to the observation of the inhabitants of the earth in the 

 northern or southern firmament. 



We owe to the same great observer our first accurate 

 knowledge of, and cosmical survey of the distribution of 

 nebulce and groups of stars throughout the entire heavens. 

 With a view of investigating their position, relative local 

 accumulation, and the probability or improbability of their 

 being arranged in accordance with certain characteristic 

 features, he classified between three and four thousand objects 

 graphically, in divisions, each embracing a space measuring 3 

 Declination and 15m. Eight Ascension. The greatest accu- 

 mulation of nebulous spots occurs in the northern hemisphere, 

 where they are distributed through Leo Major and Leo Minor; 

 the body, tail, and hind feet of the Great Bear; the nose of 

 Camelopardalus ; the tail of the Dragon ; Canes Venatici ; 

 Coma Berenices (where the north pole of the galaxy is 

 situated) -, 40 the right foot of Bootes ; and more especially 

 through the head, wings, and shoulder of Virgo. This zone, 

 which has been termed the nebulous region of Virgo, con- 

 tains, as already stated, 41 one-third of all the nebulous bodies 

 in a space embracing the eighth part of the surface of the 

 celestial hemisphere. It does not stretch far beyond the 



40 In the Cosmos, vol. iii. p. 194, lines 5 and 6 from the 

 top, by an error of the press the words south pole and north 

 pole have been confounded. 



41 " In this region of Virgo, occupying about one-eighth of 

 the whole surface of the sphere, one-third of the entire 

 nebulous contents of the heavens are congregated." Outlines, 

 p. 596. 



