on Nebulous Stars. 85 
ftars ; atid many of thofe I have named are either in this ftra- 
tum of luminous matter, or very near it. 
We have faid above, that in nebulous ftars the exiftence of 
the Ihining fluid does not feem to be fo eflentially conneded 
with the central points that it might not alfo exift without 
them. For this opinion we may affign feveral reafons. One 
of them is the great refemblance between the chevelure of 
thefe ftars and the diffufed extenfive nebulofity mentioned 
before, which renders it highly probable that they are of the 
fame nature. Now, if this be admitted, the feparate exiftence 
of the luminous matter, or its independance on a central 
ftar, is fully proved. We may alfo judge, very confidently, 
that the light of this fhining fluid is no kind of reflection from 
the ftar in the center; for, as we have already obferved, 
reflected light could never reach us at the great diftance we are 
from fuch objeds. Befides, how impenetrable would be an 
atmofphere of a fufficient denfity to refled fo great a quantity 
of light l And yet we obferve, that the outward parts of the 
chevelure are nearly as bright as thofe that are clofe to the ftar ; 
fo that this fuppofed atmofphere ought to give no obftrudion 
to the paffage of the central rays. If, therefore, this matter 
is felf-luminous, it feems more fit to produce a ftar by its 
condenfation than to depend on the ftar for its exiftence. 
Many other diffufed nebulofities, befides that about the 
conftellation of Orion, have been obferved or fufpeded ; but 
fome of them are probably very diftant, and run out far into 
fpace. For inftance, about 5 minutes in time preceding £ 
Cygni, I fufped as much of it as covers near four fquare 
degrees ; and much about the fame quantity 44/ preceding the 
125 Tauri. A fpace of almoft 8 fquare degrees, t' preceding 
« Trianguli, feems to be tinged with milky nebulofity. Three 
minutes 
