446 
rOPULAll SCIENCE REYIEW. 
Linne are especially to be noticed : — 1. A large ill-defined white spot ; 
2. A shallow saucer-like depression, very rarely seen; and 3. A small 
crater, first Seen December, as a white hill or black spot — the white hill 
being tlie edge of the crater just catching the sun’s rays, and the black spot 
the shadow. In the Circular No. III. of the Lunar Committee, there is 
an account of the observations of this small crater, or fine black point, as 
seen by Schmidt, Buckingham, Secchi, Respighi, and Wolf. The largest 
estimation (Secchi’s) of the diameter of this crater previous to April 1867 (viz., 
Feb. 11, 1867), is 033", or 2-352 English feet. It appears from Respighi’s 
communication ( Bulletin Meteorologique de V Observatoire du College Homain , 
31st May, 1867), that he observed in April and May, with the equatorial of 
the Capitoline Observatory, Rome, by Merz, of 4-5 inches (French) aperture, 
all the main features that have been recorded by Schmidt and others since 
Oct. 16, 1866 — viz., the whitish cloudlike spot of nearly the same extent as 
the crater Sulpicius Gallus ; the ring of a large crater of small depth, 
probably the ring seen by Messrs. Knott and Webb ; the bright point west 
of the centre of the large white spot, which he found (as the English 
observers) to be the western border of the small crater ; and the small crater 
itself, to which he gives a diameter of 4-0", or 28,224 English feet. Wolf 
estimates the diameter at a little less than DO", or 7,056 English feet. 
Whatever may be the truth in the midst of the conflicting opinions which 
have been expressed on the state of Linne (there are no discrepancies in the 
evidence), it is certain that no lunar spot has received so much attention 
from so many observers as Linne , and that its features are so well determined 
(with the exception of the diameter of the small crater, 0-33" in February, 
4-0" in April and May, DO" in June, which, by the way, are not contra- 
dictory), for the early half of the year 1867, as to furnish reliable evidence of 
its condition at this epoch. It must be mentioned that Mr. Rutherford, 
whose observations have been carried on at the other side of the Atlantic, 
and whose photographs are said to be larger than ours, states that he 
has been unable to detect any change in the brightness of the locality in 
question. 
The Spectrum of Meteors . — It was stated by Professor Herschel at Dundee, 
that though the spectroscope showed a yellow light in the case of meteors, 
it was impossible to say what was the composition of this light. As 
observers multiplied, however, with telescopes armed with spectroscopes, 
this difficulty would no doubt be resolved. The connection between comets 
and meteors had this year been established without doubt, and that 
connection gave wide scope for speculation as to the origin and character of 
meteoric bodies. Mr. Huggins had made an observation of the light of a 
comet, and although that observation was not perfect, still it was sufficient 
to identify the light of the nucleus of the comet with that of the meteoric 
bodies. There were two theories as to these meteors. Leverrierhad shown 
that their orbit extended from that of Uranus to that of the Earth, while 
an Italian astronomer believed that they came from the utmost fields of 
space. Fifty-six showers were well established ; and it was by the study of 
these showers that they hoped to continue, and possibly confirm and extend, 
their researches by the assistance of those zealous observers who had hitherto 
been their supporters and constant assistants among the members and other 
observers of this Association. 
