SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
171 
been completely baffled in their attempts to see this region by the extra- 
ordinary run of bad weather. At the epoch, therefore, of the article in the 
Popular Science Revieio for April, it had been found impossible to arrive at 
any definite conclusion. 
Everything has now changed, and at the present time it is possible to 
arrive at a definite conclusion about the remarkable formation first observed 
by Dr. Klein, and named ‘ Hyginus N,’ by the authority of the Selenographical 
Society. During March and April it was observed and drawn by Mr. Neison, 
who had paid particular attention to the delineation of this portion of the 
Moon, and who at once recognized it as a great, conspicuous object which 
was certainly not visible when he had drawn this region on many occasions 
between 1871 and 1876. Mr. N. E. Green also observed this formation on 
the same occasion as Mr. Neison, and their drawings published in the Seleno- 
graphical Journal for June completely confirm one another. It was also well 
seen and drawn by Dr. Klein, and likewise by Messrs. Durrad, McCance, and 
Sadler, and by MM. Gaudibert, Borefoy, and Sluyaert. Later on, towards 
the end of the year and beginning of this, it was again seen and drawn by 
Messrs. Neison, Green, Capron, Common, Noble, and Durrad. Moreover, as 
most of these observers were astronomers practised in observing and drawing 
the lunar surface, their drawings were found to be perfectly accordant, 
and left no room for uncertainty as to the exact position of this remarkable 
formation. A series of micrometric measures, by Mr. Neison, fixed its place 
on the Moon as + 9° 5' of selenographical latitude and + 6° 47' of seleno- 
graphical longitude. 
There can be, therefore, no longer any doubt about the actual existence in 
this region of a great, black, crater-like formation, nearly as large and quite 
as conspicuous as Hyginus itself, and far too distinct for it to be possible to 
overlook it whilst drawing the minuter objects in the region all round it. 
Now there can also be no doubt, that, on numerous occasions prior to 
1876, this region was examined and drawings made by many observers, 
including Schroter, Lohrmann, Madler, Gruithuisen, Kinau, Schmidt, and 
Neison, yet though they delineate many difficultly visible details, none 
drew or even saw this great black crater-like object which now stands so 
conspicuously in the very midst of this region. The only conclusion to be 
drawn seems to be that at this period it did not exist. If this be so, it must 
have been formed between 1876 and 1877. It is therefore the first thoroughly 
authenticated instance of a real physical change on the Moon. What this 
change really means, must be left for further observation to elucidate. 
Great Comet of February . — From telegrams received from Dr. Gould of 
1 Cordoba, Buenos Ayres, and Mr. Gill, Her Majesty’s Astronomer at the 
Cape of Good Hope, astronomers were led to expect that a great comet was 
! moving in the Southern hemisphere towards the north, and would become 
! visible in the second week in February. Anxious watch was kept at many 
, observatories, but no trace of this great comet was seen. Letters subse- 
j quently received from Mr. Gill showed that the telegrams had been mis- 
understood, and that though a great comet was moving in the Southern skies 
! towards the north, its path carried it in such a manner in regard to the Sun 
t that it must remain invisible in the northern hemisphere. Astronomers 
j who had been anxiously awaiting a chance of seeing a great comet were 
