186 The Planet Mars : a Fragment. 



to render the later observations much more difficult and pre- 

 carious. The position of the axis, as indicated by the snow- 

 spot, is represented as inclined about 30° to the meridian ; but 

 this was a mere rough estimate, no measurement having been 

 attempted. The more luminous part of the disc had rather a 

 yellow than a red cast in the telescope : the darker spots were 

 grey, slightly tinged with blue, or perhaps greenish blue. Only 

 two of the sketcheshere engraved (Figs. IV. and V.) were coloured 

 at the time, the others being not considered worth the trouble ; 

 but they have been all tinted in the plate for the sake of uni- 

 formity. The reader, however, is requested to lay no great 

 stress upon details, as, from imperfect definition, or the planet's 

 increased distance, many of them are of the roughest character, 

 and no attempt has been made to retouch or harmonize them. 

 Fig. V. is probably the best, having been compiled from, three 

 separate sketches on the same night with a power of 1 70 : 

 there was " so much fog as probably to diminish the planet's 

 light by -g-rd or |th, but very nice definition, and the disc just 

 like a distant globe." Such remarks were rare indeed. The 

 observing power was usually 170, quite high enough for the 

 ordinary state of the air in an unfavourable season ; but on 

 some occasions 275, 300, and even 460, were used with ad- 

 vantage. I repeatedly caught momentary glimpses of very 

 curious detail in the dusky markings, which were immediately 

 snatched away by the fluctuation of the atmosphere ; and on 

 one occasion especially (November 10), the unsteadiness of my 

 stand in a violent wind deprived me of many interesting parti- 

 culars of this nature which seemed otherwiso accessible. 



The following were the approximate dates of the selected 

 drawings, and the circumstances of the observations : — No. I. 

 Nov. lOd. lOh. — II. lOh. 40m. ; steady but rather woolly 

 definition, with very baffling and annoying wind; in best 

 glimpses the tono of the dark portions was very dappled and 

 uneven j the spot C* was evidently full of detail. The left side 

 of the fan towards tho centre of the disc was darkened in a line 

 with the bright division beneath it, the continuation of which 

 was to-nighl very difficult to be perceived, though in other 

 sketches it is carried through boldly. — III. Sept. 29d. (hour 

 in error) ; inferior definition and limo limited. — IV. Nov. 

 5d. lOh. L5m; good definition, with an unpleasant flare and 

 uncertain locus. — V. Sept. 26d. (hour in error) ; great dis- 

 tinctness in foggy air. — VI. Nov. Id. 1 Hi. 5m; markings 

 feeble, especially considering the sharpness of the limb. — 

 VII. Dee. lo.l. "'.Hi. 80m.; disc sharp even with 460.— VIII. 

 Dee. 8(1. 1 Oli. 80m.; very faint, and stand unsteady in 

 high wind. — LX. Sept. L9d. lOh. 45m. ; pretty good defi- 



* Sec Diugram, poslca. 



