512 
EARL' ROSSE’S OBSERVATIONS ON THE NEBULA. 
The details are faint, but can be seen on any moderately fine night. 
Plate XXXVI. fig. 5, H. 131. — This figure represents the central portion of a very 
large nebula. The nebula itself has not been sufficiently examined, but as yet no 
other portion appears to have a spiral, or indeed any regular arrangement. The 
sketch is not very accurate, but represents sufficiently well the general character of 
the central portion. 
“September 6, 1849. — A spiral. 
“September 16, 1849. — New spiral; a the brightest branch ; y faint; ^ short but 
pretty bright; (3 pretty distinct; s but suspected; the whole involved in faint nebula, 
which probably extends past several knots which lie about it in different directions. 
Faint nebula seems to extend very far following: drawing taken. 
“September 10, 1849. — An attempt at a drawing taken: fog. 
“October 1849. — The whole nebula in flocculi.” 
Plate XXXVll. fig. 6, H. 444. — “December 19, 1848. — Bright star between; tails 
and curved filaments ; perhaps annulus around the two nebulae. 
“December 22, 1848. — Sketch made. 
“February 11, 1849. — Lower streak seems to reach the filaments of right-hand 
nucleus.” 
Plate XXXVll. fig. 7^ H. 854. — “March 31, 1848. — A curious nebula with a 
bright nucleus; resolvable; a spiral or annular arrangement about it; no other 
portion of the nebula resolved. Observed April 1, 1848, and April 3, with the same 
results.” 
Plate XXXVll. fig. 8, H. 1909. — “ April 27, 1848. — A very bright resolvable nebula, 
but none of the component stars to be seen distinctly even with a power of a thou- 
sand. A perfectly straight and longitudinal division in the direction of the major 
axis. Resolvability most strongly indicated towards the nucleus. 
“ May 2, 1848. — Not seen so well as on April 27. Darkness in the middle, along 
the major axis barely visible. 
“April 1849. — A long ray elliptical. Major axis perhaps eight times minor axis. 
Surface somewhat broken up, and a slight darkness in the direction of the major- 
axis : night indifferent : at intervals a few stars faintly perceptible.” 
Plate XXXVll. fig. 9, H. 1397. — This sketch was made with great care by my assist- 
ant, Mr. Johnstone Stone y, and I have no doubt it is very accurate. Observed and 
sketched, April 19, 1849. It had been previously observed, March 26, 1848, by my 
former assistant, Mr. Rambaut, and I find the following note by him : — “A most ex- 
traordinary object, masses of light appear through it in knots.” 
Plate XXXVll. fig. 10, H. 399. — Observed December 22, 1848, February 11, 1849, 
and January 16, 1850, when the drawing was taken. The two comparatively dark 
spaces, one near the vertex and the other near the base of the cone, are very remark- 
able. 
Plate XXXVll. fig. 11, H. 838. — September 27, 1843. — (3-feet telescope.) Night 
pretty good ; a star in the centre and apparently ragged outline. 
