344 COSMOS. 



lation Toucan, 90 Nubecula Minor is situated in a portion 

 of the heavens barren of stars, and Nubecula Major in a 

 less starless region. The form and internal structure of the 

 latter are so involved that it presents many separate masses (as 

 seen in No. 2878 of Herschel's Catalogue), which present an 

 accurate image of the aggregate condition of the whole clouds. 

 The conjecture advanced by the meritorious observer Homer, 

 that the clouds were once parts of the Milky Way, in which we 

 can, as it were, recognize their original place, is a myth, and 

 quite as unfounded as the assertion that they have exhibited, 

 since Lacaille's time, a progressive movement an alteration of 

 position. Their position was incorrectly given in consequence 

 of the indistinctness of their margins, when seen through 

 the older telescope having smaller apertures than our more 

 recently constructed instruments ; and Sir John Herschel 

 states that the lesser cloud is inserted about Ih. Rt. Asc. out 

 of its true position, in all celestial globes and star-maps. 

 According to him Nubecula Minor lies between the meridians 

 of Oh. 28m. and Ih. 15m. N. P. Decl. 162 and 165; 

 Nubecula Major in Rt. Asc. 4h. 40m. 6h. Om., and N. P. 

 Decl. 156 and 162. In the former he has catalogued accord- 

 ing to right ascension and declination no less than 919 stars, 

 nebula?, and clusters, and in the latter 244. With a view of 

 separating the three classes, I have counted the objects in 

 the catalogue, which I find gives for 



Stars. Kebulce. Clusters. 



Nubecula Major 582 291 46 



Nubecula Minor 200 37 7 



The inconsiderable number of nebulas contained in Nubecula 

 Minor is very striking, for we find that, compared to the 



90 Cosmos, p. 192 and note. 



