H. A. Newton— Origin of Comets. 173 
of the law of distribution required by the hypothesis of Laplace; 
and in the irregular curves, the actual present distribution of 
247, and 234, known orbits. Does the present fact most 
favor the one hypothesis, or the other? The smaller irregular- 
ities of the curve are, of course, due to chance. But there are 
certain large differences between the fact and each hypothesis 
which show either systematic action of perturbations, or else 
that neither hypothesis as stated is exclusively true. The form 
the question may be this: after allowing for any perturba- 
tions and principles of selection that have acted on the orbits 
comet's potential relative to the mass of Jupiter and the sun 
18 Increased without any corresponding increase by Jupiter's 
