94 BULLETIN OP THE 



1833, the comet or meteor in 1821, the horseshoes, lassoes, dis- 

 eases, etc., are here all truthfully presented in an admirable mat- 

 ter-of-fact spirit. 



He expressed the hope that our western explorers will spare 

 no pains to see and examine the original chart, and learn from 

 its possessor all they can respecting its origin and design. 



Mr. Parker gave instances of coincidences of words, ideas, 

 and superstitions o.f the Chinese and the American Indians, re- 

 marking that the investigation of such coincidences might lead 

 to conclusions respecting the origin of the Indians. 



Mr. Gill was at a loss to understand why the chart exhibited 

 should begin with the year 1800. 



Further remarks were made by Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Dall. 



Mr. Asaph Hall made a communication on 



THE APPEARANCE OP SATURN'S RINGS. 



(a B S T F. AC T.) 



In this paper Mr. Hall gave some account of the difficulty 

 of- correctly delineating the shadows and phenomena attending 

 the appearance of the rings of Saturn. He has observed the 

 satellites of this planet with the 26-ineh refractor of the Naval 

 Observatory during the summers of 1815 and 1876 ; and has paid 

 particular attention to the appearance of the rings since Septem- 

 ber, 1875. He stated that he has never seen the notch in the 

 outline of the shadow of the ball on the rings, which is so marked 

 a feature in the picture of this planet made by Mr. Trouvelot at 

 Cambridge, Mass., in December, 1874. This outline has always 

 appeared as having a regular and continuous curvature. Neither 

 has he ever seen the jagged appearance in the division of the 

 rings near the ansse. 



He then spoke of the following phenomena : — 



(1) Although the principal division of the rings has been easily 

 visible until the present time, no other divisions have been seen. 

 Slight markings have been noticed in the rings, which may be 

 caused by other divisions. 



(2) The dusky ring has been remarkably bright during the 

 summer of 1876. 



(3) The convexity of the outline of the shadow has always been 

 seen turned toward the ball of the planet, and not away from it, 

 as it is usually drawn. Thinking this to be aii illusion, Mr. Hall 

 has tried various ways of dispelling it, but has never succeeded. 



