222 



Dr. J. Stcnhouse on certain Lichens. 



[Feb. 24, 



portions of the nebula. 30 Dorado shows the nitrogen line with facility ; 

 the second line certainly, but not in all positions, and always with diffi- 

 culty ; the hydrogen line is suspected only. I can see no trace of a con- 

 tinuous spectrum. 



r] x\rgo has been observed on only one unfavourable morning ; the ni- 

 trogen line was seen over a considerable space ; of the presence or ab- 

 sence of others, or of a continuous spectrum, I am unable to speak with 

 certainty. 



With respect to future operations, it is intended that at first the routine 

 work shall consist of a detailed delineation of the objects figured by Sir 

 John Herschel, or any others which may prove interesting : this will 

 take some time ; for even without the impediment of cloudy weather, the 

 delineation, with any degree of satisfactory correctness, of a moderately 

 large nebula requires a considerable amount of work and careful and 

 frequent scrutiny. It is hoped, however, that this work will by practice 

 be found less painfully difficult than it is at present. 



The spectroscope will be used as much as possible, the moon photo- 

 graphed, and attempts made to photograph the nebulae, when a photo- 

 graphic apparatus has been procured, and staging, photographic room, 

 &c. added to the building. It is, moreover, hoped that before long a re- 

 fractor, of some nine inches aperture, may be procured, to be mounted 

 with the reflector, or, preferably, as a separate instrument. 



This telescope, besides being of much general use, will find much and 

 valuable employment in determining micrometrically the chief points in 

 the nebulae under examination with the reflector, with more expedition 

 and accuracy than at present ; for spectroscopic work this telescope would 

 be a valuable adjunct, especially if it be constructed of such comparatively 

 short focal length as seems now to be practicable. 



The great interest which the Royal Society has taken in everything 

 connected with the Melbourne reflector is my sole apology for sending 

 thus early such a meagre account, 



February 24, 1870. 



Lieut-General Sir EDWARD SABINE, K.C.B., President, in 



the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



I. "Note on certain Lichens/' By John Steniiouse, LL.D., 

 F.R.S., &c. Received January 10, 1870. 

 Through the kindness of W. Qarruthers, Esq., of the Botanical De- 

 partment of the British Museum, I obtained a considerable quantity of 

 lichens from the neighbourhood of Moffat in Scotland. These were Cla- 

 donia rangiferina, and a mixture of Usnea barbata and Evernia primastri, 



