SPECTRUM AND APPEARANCE OF THE RECENT COMET. 85 
sufficient to keep iron in a fluid state, for it is distributed through 
the mass of the meteor as if it were the cement. 
But I will not detain you with these speculations, which open 
such a wide field of investigation. I hope I have said enough to 
indicate the direction in which the investigation is proceeding, and 
the importance of testing with the spectroscope another member o 
the meteor-comet system. 
On June 7 the weather was again cloudy, and I only caught a 
glimpse of the comet between clouds, and obtained the sketch D, 
which shows a remarkable change in the coma. I then put on a 
the red end of the spectrum, but before I could obtain any 
measures it was gone, and I did not get another opportunity of 
testing the spectrum. 
a. far in front by its velocity, and then turned grace 
to form part of the tail. a 
.On the evening of June 5 the coma was not so striking. It 
still presented two branches, but neither developed to the same 
— as when seen in the morning; the difference was I think 
ue to the state of our atmosphere, which prevented me from 
Seeing clear] 
re On the evening of June 6th I had a fine view of it, and this 
4s the only occasion in which there seemed to be a shadow or 
» Cone in the rear of the nucleus. The coma was more com 
ous than ever, and presented the appearance of a bird with 
