256 The Great Comet of 1861. 
5 
tinuity of the phenomena, which is a condition of the utmost 
importance for their future discussion. 
The suddenness of the apparition of the comet in northern 
latitudes was one of the most impressive of its characteristics. 
On the 2d of July after the twilight had disappeared, the head, 
to the naked eye, was much brighter than a star of the first 
magnitude, if only the effective impression be taken into account, 
although as to intensity it was far inferior to « Lyre, or even to 
« Urse Majoris. I should describe the head as nearly equal m 
brightness to that of the great comet of 1858 between the 30th 
September and the 5th of October; it should be considered 
however that the present comet was better situated, from its 
uigbey position above the horizon at the end of twilight. 
The aspect of the tail suggested a resemblance to the comet of 
March, 1843. It was a narrow, straight ray projected to a dis- 
tance of one hundred and six degrees (106°) from the nucleus, 
being easily distinguishable quite up to the borders of the 
milky way. The boundaries for the most part were well défined 
and easily traced among the stars. It was not until after two or 
three hours of observation, that I could gain a clear comprehen- 
sion of the structure of the tail or tails as they presented them- 
selves to the naked eye and through a small operaglass. It was 
then evident that a diffuse, dim light with very uncertain out- 
lines, apparently composed of hazy filaments, swept off in a strong 
curve towards the stars in the tail of Ursa Major—the southern 
edge directed as low as towards Mizar. This was evidently 4 
broad curved tail, intersected on its curved side at the pgaet 
