on the Planet Venus. 
127 
I found, the image being uncommonly fine and soft, that as 
usual there was no spot, but that the northern end of the 
boundary of light, a , fig. 2. was most certainly rounded off 
beyond all comparison more than the southern ; the latter ap- 
pearing to run on rather pointed, with an inequality upon it, 
on which a dim greyish shadow was perceived. 
At 6 b 20'. In order to secure myself against deception, I 
desired my attendant, who came in at that time, and has 
remarkably good sight, with some practice, to observe whe- 
ther he saw any thing particular ; and what ? The answer he 
gave, at the first sight, was, that Venus had an evidently irre- 
gular form ; that on the right (southern) end of the illumination 
she was pointed, the point having some shade on it, hut that on the 
left she was oval. 
At 6 h 40', the difference began to be less striking; and 
having intermitted the observation in order to recruit my eye, 
I found at f 30' both horns equally rounded, though with this 
difference, that at the southern one a small indistinct glimmer- 
ing point of light, barely perceptible, often shewed itself at a, 
fig. 3. not on the rounded part, but close to it : this was seen 
with 288, as well as 160. At 43' I found it still the same ; 
and likewise afterwards with the 13-feet reflector, which also 
shewed me the point. Soon after, Venus became invisible. 
There was no nebulosity to be perceived as on the 18th. 
Feb. 27. I wished much to examine the changes which 
riiight happen in the course of all this afternoon, but high light 
clouds prevented me. It was very remarkable, that at 40' on 
this succeeding day, I saw most distinctly the same appearance as 
the evening before, with 109 and 160 magnifying powers, only 
with this slight difference, that the shadow , which shewed itself 
