LOKD OXMANTOWN ON THE GEEAT NEBTJLA IN OEION. 
67 
February 13th, 1864. 
<r, r, v, y nearly equal ; brightest of 
these is perhaps a. 
7 T. 
&»,£,$,/ 3 ; /3 is the faintest of these four, 
a, /, yp, X. 
<p, faintest. 
March 1st, 1864. 
v, brightest. 
V, T. 
y, g, X. 
0, |0t-. 
sr, very faint. 
There are several places where we have reason to suspect that a change of form may 
have taken place in the nebulosity since our observations commenced. 1st. In Mr. 
Bindon Stoney’s drawing, of which an outline is given at the upper right-hand corner of 
the Skeleton Map, a dark lane exists running from 88 in a direction parallel to the 
“ Frons,” whereas at present the only break in the nebulosity at all in the same direc- 
tion runs from 88 in a south following direction. 
2nd. The projection of the nebulosity below 88 into the Sinus Magnus does not exist 
in Mr. Stoney’s drawing. 
3rd. The following outline of the nebulosity immediately below 75 is concave towards 
the following side in Mr. Stoney’s drawing, but convex in Mr. Hunter’s ; in all these 
points I believe that Mr. Hunter gives as nearly as possible the present appearance. 
4th. Mr. FIunter represents the outline of the nebulosity surrounding the dark region 
or lake round the stars 32, 35 as very marked ; I often examined this part during the 
seasons 1864-65 and 1865-66, but never saw it quite as distinctly as it is represented 
on the following side, nor did I see the elbow just following 35 ; the nebulosity appeared 
to be more of the shape represented by the coarsely dotted line in the Skeleton Map. 
5th. I was never able to see more than two of the three rays below this lake, and except 
on two or three occasions I could only make out one. Mr. Hunter has since told me that 
in the last season during which he was working, these rays were much fainter than the} 
had been previously, and that they are represented too bright for their appearance 
during the season 1863-64. 
l 2 
