1.8.C. 36 Procs. of the Asiatic Soc. of Bengal. |N.S., XVIII, 
have been made in our knowledge of Stellar Distribution and 
the Structure of the Universe. I realise the difficulties of 
attempting, in the limits of this short address, anything like a 
comprehensive survey of the problem and shall therefore con- 
tent myself with referring briefly to certain of its important 
features, illustrating the methods of present day astronomical 
research. 
. The subject has attracted the attention of astrono- 
mers from the earliest times; yet it is only within the last few 
my 
Progress in the branch of astronomy we are consider- 
ing, seems to have proceeded slowly for a time on accoun 
of the want of sufficient data. Recently, however, by the 
gradual perfection of instrumental methods and appliances a0 
enormous increase in the observational material has become 
available ad investigators so that rapid development has be- 
m 
come possible. 
6. Two principal features of modern astronomical observ@- 


