﻿508 Mr. D. Vaughan on Secondary Planets 



2000 metres, with a breadth of 1100, the glacier has a descent 

 of only 115 metres; this is followed by steeper, almost precipi- 

 tous portions, extending 1800 metres. From the Clubhutte 

 (which stands close above and beside the glacier) one commands 

 a view of the whole, and can perfectly gather immediately from 

 Nature the explanation given by Professors Forbes and Tyndall 

 of the origin of the dirt-bands. The structure is so distinct 

 that it can be accurately followed throughout its course. Never 

 have I enjoyed so magnificent a mountain-scene as this ; little 

 known, it surpasses in beauty all the larger glaciers I have 

 seen. 



4. Neve-snow. 



On the 25th August, 1869, we ascended, under a cloudless 

 sky, the Galenstock ; and on the 28th we walked up the whole 

 Rhone Glacier, and over the Triftlimmi. There, all over the 

 surface, the snow was finely ribbed as I do not remember having 

 ever seen it before. In two directions, at an angle of about 60°, 

 the snow was finely furrowed, and thereby divided at the surface 

 into little rhombs, the longer diagonal of which (perhaps 2 or 

 3 centims.) had in every case an east and west direction. Fig. 

 17 shows their form. The wind often produces something si- 

 milar in the neve-snow; but the immense regularity and uni- 

 versal distribution were nevertheless peculiar. 



LXIV. On Secondary Planets in Small Orbits, 

 By Daniel Vaughan, Esq.* 



FROM the theories of the tides and of the figure of the 

 earth, it appears legitimate to pass to kindred researches 

 on the extent in which the close proximity to a great central 

 orb may affect the form of a satellite, the gravity at its surface, 

 or its capability of maintaining the planetary structure. On 

 this subject I partially treated in communications for the Phi- 

 losophical Magazine about ten years ago. But it seems desi- 

 rable at the present time to extend the investigations which I 

 then presented, as they will be found to have an important 

 bearing on certain questions of scientific interest, and the basis 

 on which they rest can be rendered more secure. In supposing 

 that the same side of a satellite is always turned towards its pri- 

 mary, there might appear some dealing in uncertainty ; for the 

 arrangement which our moon and other secondary planets ex- 

 hibit could not be assumed as the result of a general law as 

 long as it was ascribed to special causes supposed to operate in 

 very remote ages. The assumption might be more justifiable if, 

 * Communicated by the Author. 



