VOL. LXXVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 89 



n Firginis. — This star is supposed to be variable, because Flamsteed, on the 

 27th of January, 168O, says he could not see it. He observed it May 12, 1677, 

 and some years afterwards, since it is in his catalogue. I examined it frequently 

 in 1784 and 1785, without perceiving the least change, being of the 6th mag- 

 nitude, less than c, and rather brighter than a star 3° lower in a right line with c 

 and n Virginis. 



Bayer s star ofdlh magnitude, 1° South of g Virginis. — ^This star is not in any 

 of the 9 catalogues that I have. Maraldi looked for it in vain ; and in May, 1785, 

 I could not see the least appearance of it. It certainly was not of the 8th mag- 

 nitude. 



In the northern thigh of Virgo. — ^This star, which is marked by Ricciolus of the 

 6th magnitude, could not be seen by Maraldi in 1709 ; nor was it of the 9th 

 magnitude, if at all visible, in 1785. 



91 or 92 Virginis. — In 1785 I found that one of these stars was missing, and 

 which seems to be the 91 : the remaining one is of the 6 . 7th magnitude. 



« Draconis. — I am of Mr. Herschel's opinion, that it is highly probable this 

 star is variable. Bradley, Flamsteed, &c. mark it of the 2d magnitude j at pre- 

 sent it is only of a bright 4th. I have frequently examined it since October, 

 1782, without perceiving the least change, being constantly rather less than » 

 Draconis, equal to S Ursae Majoris, and rather brighter than x Draconis. 



Bayer s star in the west scales of Libra. — Maraldi says he could not see this 

 star; nor could I in 1784 and 1785. With a night-glass may be seen thereabouts 

 some small stars of about the 8th magnitude, none of which are near so bright as 

 the 2d V Librae. 



PtoL and Ul. Beigh's N°6 of the unformed in Libra. — In examining different 

 catalogues I do not find this star in any other than the above, though it is 

 marked of the 4th magnitude. If Ptolemy had not the x it might be thought to 

 be that. In 1785 I frequently observed a star of the 7th magnitude very near its 

 place, which appeared rather less than Flamsteed's 41. Flamsteed has not this 

 little star in his catalogue ; but he observed it May 9, 168I. 



X Librce. — ^This star is thought to be variable. I am not of that opinion ; 

 though certainly it is rather singular that Hevelius, whose attention was directed 

 to this part of the heavens, to find Tycho's llth, did not observe the x ; and the 

 more so, as he has noticed two much smaller stars not far from it. During these 

 3 years I have found the x constantly of the 5th magnitude, being less than ^ or 

 9, equal to a, and brighter than n. 



Tycho^s llth Libne. — Hevelius says he could not find a star of the 4th magni- 

 tude in Libra noticed by Tycho. This must be Tycho's 1 1th, since he has all the 

 others. It was not visible in 1783, 1784, and 1785, nor probably ever existed; 

 for I think it is evident that this 1 1th is no other than the x, with an error of 2° 

 in longitude. 



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