470 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



formations, induced me to devote an accurate search to the object, which grad- 

 ually led to the result that this also is in reality a " crater-cone " from which the 

 dark material has flowed out. Madler believed from his examination of the dis- 

 trict in question that it was neither raised nor sunken. This mistake, originating, 

 probably from the weakness of his telescope, had previously been partially recog- 

 nized by Schmidt, in whose map of the place in question several hills, "small cra- 

 ters, and fissures in the ground (rills) are marked. 



According to my opinion, the conditions described in the foregoing account 

 prove the existence of phenomena on the Moon's surface which exhibit the great- 

 est likeness to the lava-streams of our earthly volcanoes, so that there is no longer 

 any doubt of the occurrence of genuine volcanic phenomena on the Moon. 

 These phenomena, as far as regards the crater, belong to an epoch when the 

 chains of hills in the surrounding district were already formed, so that the effluent 

 matter was obliged to follow the slopes of the ground. 



If, in the instances described, all the phenomena point to lava-like currents, it 

 may be concluded in another case, although with less certainty, that the ground 

 has been covered with masses of stones or ashes. The district referred to lies on 

 the Moon in i° N. Lat. and 47° W. Long. There the grey floor of the level 

 Mare, occupied only by very low hills, is marked over with bright streaks of light. 

 But when the Sun is low, it is perceived that an oval patch, like dark gauze, 

 covers the ground over a surface of several square miles, and that beneath it the- 

 brighter or darker portions of the ground gleam through. This patch gives to 

 the observer the impression that it is transparent, or as if a thin mist covered the 

 ground. This last impression is not to be accepted, because the patch is a thor- 

 oughly permanent appearance, a modification of the color of the lunar ground. 



Siich an appearance must, however, result if the ground, where it is bright 

 grey as well as where it is marked across with white stripes, has been covered by 

 a very thin layer of stones or ashes. Similar indications are to be found in other 

 parts of the Moon's surface, but they have till now escaped selenographers, be- 

 cause these have generally had in their eyes only the more universal and larger 

 features of the lunar surface, and the search after detail is, properly speaking, 

 only now beginning. 



This detailed survey has already .proved that there is a far greater similarity 

 between the surface of the Moon and that of our Earth than was formerly be- 

 lieved ; but the research is only at its commencement and confronts a Hterally 

 endless amount of detail : besides, it is far more difficult and entails a greater 

 strain than many other kinds of observation. 



It is greatly to be desired, on the part of geologists, that the lunar formations 

 should be submitted to a thorough study founded on eye-scrutiny; the result 

 would be remarkable for the better knowledge we should gain of lunar and also- 

 of terrestrial formations. — The Observatory. 



