Messrs. Huggins and Miller on Spectra of fixed Stars. 73 
of revolution of the wire. The entire force developed in ten 
revolutions of the wire should then remain the same, if the ve- 
locity of revolution should be changed, (as determined by Fara- 
day). If the magnet rotates in the opposite direction its im- 
ulses against the ether will be correspondingly increased, and 
the result will be the same. 
raday, in certain papers originally published in the Philo- 
sophical Magazine, and the Philosophical Transactions, has in- 
dulged in ingenious speculations upon the probable physical 
character of the lines of magnetic force, and distinctly intimates 
that he inclines to the opinion that they have in reality a physi- 
cal existence, correspondent to their analogues the electric lines,” 
instead of being simply “‘representants of magnetic power,” or 
lines of resultant magnetic action. In speculating upon the 
question in what this physical existence may consist, he remarks 
that “it may be a vibration of the hypothetical ether,” (along 
the lines), or astate or tension of that zther equivalent to either 
a dynamic or a static condition, or it may be some other state.” 
The results arrived at, in the present r, are opposed to these 
speculative ideas of the great English physicist, for our conclu- 
sions are that the lines upon which the phenomena of induction 
by a magnet depend are merely lines of equal magnetic action ; 
but the action is that of a force whose existence has not hereto- 
fore been recognized, viz, the so-called impulsive force of the 
magnet, 
ni (To be concluded.) 
Art. IX.—On the Spectra of some of the Fixed Stars ; by WILLIAM 
d Prof. 
Hueearns, F.R.A.S., and Prof. W. A. Minuer, .V.P.R.S., and 
On the Spectra of some of the Nebule; by Witu1am Hue- 
Gins, F.R.A.S. 
Mr. Huaerns and Prof. MILLER presented to the Royal Soci- 
ety of London, on the 26th of May, 1864, an important paper on 
the spectra of some of the fixed stars, and Mr. Huggins presen 
one on the 8th of September on the spectra of some of the neb- 
x. By a peculiar adaptation of the spectroscope to a telescope 
of 10 feet focal length and 8 inches aperture, they were able to 
make a direct comparison of the spectra of the moon, planets, 
fixed stars, and nebulz, with the spectra of the several chemica 
elements. The following are some of the more important points 
_ of the two papers. : d 
The result of the analysis of the light of the moon is wholly 
negative as to the existence of any considerable lunar atmos- 
Se a 
oe Deals aig 
Am, Jour. Sct.—Szconp Serres, Vou. XL, No. 118—Juny, 186000 
