SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
197 
Disappearance of a Lunar Crater. — Padre Secchi, writing from Rome, on 
February 14, states, in relation to tbe reports that the Crater Linne has dis- 
appeared, that he has recently had an opportunity of investigating this 
point. He says : On the evening of the 10th (February), between 8 and 10 
o’clock, the Crater became lighted up, and one could see near the limiting 
circle a small point, and around it a very flat irregularly circular crown. 
The absence of proper illumination and the promoxity of the moon to 
the horizon, prevented further observation. On the 11th, in the evening, 
Linne was already pretty well illuminated ; and at 7 o’clock, one could see 
distinctly a very small crater, surrounded by a brilliant white crown, which 
shone brightly on the deep shade of the Mare serenitatis. The size of the 
orifice of the crater was about § of a second or more ; and the crown was a 
little larger than Sulpicius Gallus. Signor Secchi dwells upon this com- 
parison, because he says it shows us M.M. Moedler and Beer, whose map he 
employs, should never have figured a crater so large and well-defined as 
they assign to Linne , for a white spot such as that which exists at present ; 
in fact Sulpicius Gallus is actually much larger than the little crater which 
forms the centre of the spot. 
The Meteoric Shower of November in Mexico . — M. A. Poey writes to 
M. Elie de Beaumont concerning his observations in Mexico. He states 
that there was really no shower perceptible from his observatory. The 
following are the results of the inquiries made at the Observatory of Santa- 
Clara, by the French Scientific Commission under M. Poey : — 
Night of November 13 and 14. 
Northern Hemisphere. 
Southern Hemisphere. 
Total. 
From 
12 p.m. to 1 a.m. 7 meteors. 
12 p.m. to 1 a.m. 11 meteors 
. 18 
1 a.m. to 2 A.M. 16 „ 
1 a.m. to 2 A.M. 12 ; , 
. 28 
Total . .',28 
Total . 23 
~46 
Night of November 14 and 15. 
Northern Hemisphere. 
Southern Hemisphere. 
Total. 
From 
1 a.m. to 2 a.m. 13 meteors. 
1 a.m. to 2 a.m. 17 meteors 
. 30 
2 A.M. to 3 A.M. 16 „ 
2 a.m. to 3 a.m. 10 meteors 
. 26 
Total . . 29 
Total . *27 
~56 
It may be seen from the above figures : (1) That the number of meteors 
did not exceed the mean of ordinary nights ; (2) That there were ten millions 
more seen on the night of the 14th and 15th, than on the preceding even- 
ings ; (3) That the maximum number was seen between one and two. 
The probable Periodicity of the Comet observed at the Observatory of Mar- 
seilles on January 22. — This has received the consideration of M. Silloujelt. 
He has calculated — though with the assistance of very imperfect instruments 
— according to Cauchy’s method, the elements of this comet. It results 
from his calculation — necessarily approximative — that the comet is periodic. 
He has obtained for its elements almost analogous numbers to those figured 
under the number 27 in Arago’s Astronomy. This comet, therefore, would 
seem to be that which was discovered by Messier, in April 1771. 
M. Faye's Theory of the Solar Spots. — The views of Herr Kirchhoff, given 
already, have been answered by M. Faye, who maintains that Herr Kirch- 
