Sor the Advancement of Science, 399 — 
within 32” of a third, so.as to form a-triple star, as not less than 
173,000 to 1, while four such triple stars were known to exist. The 
conclusion, adds Sir John Herschel, of a physical connection of some 
ind or other is, therefore, unavoidable. “ Against the principle of this. 
argument, Prof. Forbes, though with much diffidence, felt himself cal- | 
led on to protest. He owned he could not attach any idea to what 
would be the distribution of stars, or of any thing else if “ fortui- 32, 
tously scattered,” and therefore he must regard with hesitation, if not. 
doubt, an attempt to assign a numerical value to.the’ antecedent proba- - 
peared that an equable spacing of the stars over the ould 
t far more inconsistent with a total absence of law. or'princip! 
the existence of spaces of comparative condensation, including bin 
or even more s, as well ‘as regions of great paucity of 
Stars. an illustration of this, he‘adduced the representation 
Stars and their grouping by sprinkling viscid white paint from a coa 
ru : r 4 are ; ; eee Oe ilkeagt it was impossible t 
conceive a nearer a proach to * random'scattering,” yet he had witnes- 
~ foo 
Pa 
~ 8. There is also a quicker rotation round ‘its longer axis. 9. A comet 
Shines by reflected light, and shows a’ sensible ‘phase. 10. In propor- 
tion 1 rie. ; ; Bi mh hey : id 
bility of any given arrangement or grouping whatever. To him-it.ap-" 
: sky would seem 
ngevery variety 
Ya 
y 
