PECULIARITIES OF THE COMET OF 1881. 239 



that date, then the next day and last on the 9th of June, This appearance was 

 immediately signahzed to Europe. Now it is visible since the night of the 23d 

 and 24th day of June, above the horizon of our hemisphere. Its principle ele- 

 ments observed to the present, give it a semblance, so to speak, corresponding- 

 with the comet which appeared in 1807. The trajectory of the two stars appear 

 to be the same. The comet we are admiring at the present, possesses a very 

 brilliant nucleus, as brilliant as a star of first magnitude. 



Its tail is magnificent, notwithstanding it has changed into several new forms 

 lasting lustres. Its progress is rapid ; it moves from the sun toward the north, 

 and in a few days will disappear. Whence comes it ? 



This comet has had a visibility sufficiently prolonged to have permitted num- 

 erous and close observations; the elements gathered, astronomical as well as phy- 

 sical, will tell us the probable duration of its revolution. 



It is known that of all the comets observed to the present, the number is very 

 hmited, of which the periodicity has been determined with precision. Astrono- 

 mers count eight only. They are 



Encki's, period 3 3-10 years. 



Bronsen's 5 '"2 " 



Winnecke, a little 61-2 "■ 



Arrests 5 6-10 " 



Biela 6 6-10 " 



Faye ,,.,71-2 " 



Tuttle 14 



Halley, most memorable of all 66 " 



All these differences demonstrate that comets are not, as formerly believed, 

 celestial vagabond bodies, for which the laws of control and calculation did not 

 exist. They observe on the contrary, the same laws of gravitation which gov- 

 ern all the stars of our universe, as they gravitate around the sun, and are de- 

 pendant on his attraction, with this difference, that in place of following circular 

 curves they follow oval curves, especially eclipses, astonishingly heightened. — 

 Scientific Correspondence La Presse. 



, PECULIARITIES OF THE COMET OF 1881. 



BY PROF. ORMOND STONE, CINCINNATI, OHIO. 



The great comet now visible has been observed here at every opportunity 

 since its discovery was first made known. On the morning of Friday, June 24th, 

 although the northern sky was quite cloudy near the horizon, the comet was seen 

 long enough to obtain a determination of its position. The head was quite com- 

 plicated in form, the nucleus itself was very bright and the envelope on the 

 side next the sun was quite similar, in appearance, to that of Donati's comet, as 

 it appeared during the earlier part of October, 1858, as figured by Prof. Bond, 



