21 



greater breadth, and perhaps also to contrast with the dark 

 clouds. I saw it on the 2nd, first in strong twilight, and for 

 some time took it to be an auroral streak, till its fixity and 

 freedom from pulsation indicated its true character. I may 

 here say that the comet appears to have been seen by several 

 persons on Sunday evening, the 1st, and by Mr. Blessing, of 

 Seppeltsfield, on Saturday, the 31st of January. 



On the 4th I saw the tail as early as S o'clock, and later, 

 when the twilight had died out, it was very bright. I could trace 

 it down to Beta Pisces Australis, which star was near the ex- 

 tremity, on the northern edge ; but I thought wholly immersed 

 in the tail.* In this position Beta Pisces Australis was probably 

 mistaken by many persons for the nucleus, of which, however, 

 I could see no trace. The tail could be followed nearly up to 

 and pointed directly towards Eta Phoenicis, or to an altitude of 

 35°. Better eyes could probably trace it further. Tliela 

 Phoenicis was within, but nearly on the northern verge, 

 and the tail was broadest and brightest a little below that star 

 — about l|-° wide, gradually tapering towards each extremity. 

 The tail was about as bright, or a little brighter, than the 

 smaller Magellan cloud, which in structure it much resembled, 

 and could be seen much better with the naked eye than through, 

 a telescope. 



On February 5 \ho, tail was not so bright ; first seen about 

 8.10 ; later it reached up to Zeta Phoenicis, sajr 40° or beyond, 

 passing through JEpsilon Phoenicis, the head being to the south 

 of Fomalhaut. It was only slightly curved to the south, the 

 upper end straightening as the tail swings OA r er to the north. 



Feb. 6. Fainter and less curved. Now extends to Chi 

 Eridani, perhaps further. Air thick on horizon. 



Mr. Mann, telegraphing from Mount Gram bier, thus de- 

 scribes its appearance this evening : — 



" Feb. 6, midnight. Beautiful clear night. I went to the 

 top of the mount near the lakes to observe the comet. It has 

 no nucleus, but tail fades away at some distance above the 

 horizon {i.e., cannot be traced down to horizon). At lOh. 30m. 

 tail scarcely visible, and gradually faded away ; position, S.~W. 

 by S.- "When at its brightest about 9 o'clock it extended over 

 about one-fifth of the sky. At no time was the tail well 



* Dr. Bone, of Castlemaine, in Victoria, claims to have seen the nucleus 

 with a field-glass on the 4th, and gives its position R.A. 22h. 49m. 5s., 

 dec. 33° 35'. This would bring it close to Gamma and Delta Pisces Australis 

 (R.A. 22h. 45m. 38s., and 22h. 49m. 5s., and dec. respectively 33° 11' and 33° 

 30£'). The position given by Mr. Ellery on the 4th was R.A. 22h. 48m., dec. 

 32° 36'. Dr. Bone's position is either wrong, or he must have mistaken 

 some star for the nucleus, and if so it was probably either Gamma or Delta 

 Pisces Australis. 



