354 Letter of Dr. B. A. Gould. 
ours. 
During the intervals between the zones I give rest to my 
or five months been indescribably bad, so much so indeed that 
from the solstice to the March equinox there had been but 5 
nights free from clouds, had just become settled and favorable ; 
during an entire month there were but two cloudy nights, an 
until the middle of May we enjoyed magnificent opportunist 
for observing. During all this time, Messrs. Thome and Bach- 
so that we observed one-half as many stars during this perio 
of six weeks as during the whole six months preceding. 
unremitting alternation they continued without the resp 
single night, provided the sky was clear, until within a few dé H 
when the new assistant, Mr. Latzina, had acquired sufficient 
dexterity to relieve them in a measure by permitting the resu™P 
tion of the old routine. 
took two degrees as far as 46° Decl., and thence prsdnsly ped 
creased it southward, until the last belt comprises ‘ath is 
degrees from 75° to 80°. In the Milky Way this w? gand . 
halved, and in the magnificent galactic region near?" iy A, 
the Cross, it became necessary to subdivide yet ago fell short 
my original estimate of the amount of work to be done * 
