104 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
explains by supposing that vapors are emitted by these crater- 
lets which occasionally obscure or even entirely hide some of 
them. Certain bright streaks also appear which Pickering be- 
lieves to exhibit a change of form, but which Dr. Klein thinks 
are due only to a varying illumination. Again near the north- 
east side of Herodotus similar changes of visibilitv among some 
seven or eight small craters and similar variable light streaks 
and spots were noted. The most reasonable assumption as the 
cause of these various changes is the theory that the Moon is 
not yet physically dead, but is still able to faintly and spasmodi- 
cally breathe forth vapors of water or other gases. 
The subject is an interesting one, but no amateur in Ham- 
ilton or Toronto need think of contributing to an increase of 
knowledge relating to it by instrumental means. With all his 
advantages Prof. Pickering admits that formations less than 
200 yards in diameter were beyond his ken, despite the magnifi- 
cent seeing he enjoyed, so that with our feeble instruments and 
uncertain atmosphere a whole Vesuvius or Pelee might disap- 
pear and we know nothing of it. One curious series of 
changes is however within the range of the possessor of a good 
4-inch glass. I refer to the peculiar changes which take place 
in the appearance of the twin craters, Messier and Messier A., 
which are more easily shown than described. The cause of 
these changes no one can say, unless hoar frost deposits or fogs 
have something to do with it. ‘ 
In conclusion then I would say that if animal life exists on 
the Moon it can only be in the form of bacteria or some of those 
other low forms of animal life scarcely distinguishable from the 
vegetable. Low forms of vegetation may possibly exist simi- 
lar to those which are found in our own polar or alt-alpine re- 
gions. Of physical change there appears to be a certain 
amount of evidence which cannot be ignored. ‘Though not all 
of it is convincing, enough hds been adduced to considerably 
shake the faith of those who for so many years have confidently 
asserted that the Moon is a dead world. 
Here we have a portion of our satellite’s surface as imaged 
in one of Nasmyth’s casts. Let us imagine ourselves transperted 
