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present form of this instrument, one of the images is not so bright as the other.

I am aware that several of the matters referred to in this letter are connected with prolonged physiological and metaphysical controversies (see Abbott's Light and Touch, in the March number of Macmillan's Magazine, &c.). I may say, therefore, that I have no wish to write further on this subject at present.

Upper Tulse Hill: March 14, 1866.

Yours obediently,

WILLIAM HUGGINS.

SUPERIOR CONJUNCTION OF VENUS, &c.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ASTRONOMICAL REGISTER. Sir, Venus being in superior conjunction with the Sun on the 26th February, at 1.17 A.M. G.M.T., I observed that planet with my Cooke's 4-in. refractor and one of Dawes' solar eye-pieces without difficulty, between 10 and 11 A.M. of the previous day, the 25th, and again between 8 and 9 A.M. of the 26th. The angular distance of the planet from the edge of the Sun's disc at the latter hour was 65'.

Jupiter. I observe that at this planet's present angular distance from the Sun, the equatorial dark bands are readily distinguishable by day, in full sunlight.

e Canis Majoris. On observing this star on the 26th February, and again on the 9th and 11th inst., with various eye-pieces, I was under the impression that there is a minute dull star S. of the principal one, a little f. closer than the Companion to Rigel. It may possibly have been an optical illusion; but I hope some of your readers possessing competent instruments will kindly take an opportunity of verifying, or otherwise, the existence of this Companion. N.p. this star is a triangle of very minute stars; the most f. of the three is very difficult to observe with my instrument. All are faint, and somewhat obscured by the light of the large star. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, D. A. FREEMAN.

Mentone, Alpes Maritimes:

March 12, 1866. ·

NOTES AND GLEANINGS.

THE NEW MINOR PLANET, No. 85, has been named Io, which our contemporary the Ast. Nach. turns into Jo!

DOUBLE STARS.-In the Ast. Nach. of March 5, is a paper on double-star measurements, by Baron Dembowski.

DESTRUCTION OF AN OBSERVATORY BY WHITE ANTS." At the former place (Paramatta) we visited, by invitation, the Government Observatory; but the pleasure of the occasion was destroyed by a singular accident that had occurred just before our arrival. It appeared that the white ants had secretly obtained possession of the building, and that they had long been busy eating away the inside of the posts and joists which supported the upper story of the observatory. No outward sign of the hidden work of the insects gave the inmates any warning of the coming catastrophe; but suddenly, on the morning of our visit, the weight of the instruments in the upper floor brought the whole down with a great crash. We found our Scotch friend, the astronomer, scarcely able to stir amidst the debris of telescopes and instruments of all kinds, some shattered in pieces, and all strewn around in pitiable confusion. Our friend certainly had a full de

mand made that morning upon his coolness and patience. He seemed to bear the mishap with a tolerable measure of philosophic stoicism, and our visit became one of condolence. But sincere as was our sympathy, that could not help him much, and so we left him with a hope that Government would provide a more substantial structure for his future use. None can imagine the destructive power of the white ant but those who have lived in tropical lands, where these insects abound. Silently and swiftly they bore through boxes, blankets, books, or anything, in fact, that comes in their track. In the Friendly Islands, books seemed to be most in request, and many a valuable work have they gone through in a short time. It may be worth knowing, that they will not attack any book that is bound in what is called rough calf.' An occasional examination of house posts, &c., is absolutely necessary as an assurance of safety against the clever sapping and mining operations of these insects. Such an inspection would have prevented the annoyance and destruction of valuable property at the Paramatta Observatory, but probably the presence of the enemy was totally unthought of. (1846.)"—Ten Years in South-Central Polynesia. By the Rev. Thomas West, pp. 19-20.

COMETARY INTELLIGENCE.

COMET I. OF 1866.-M. Pechyle has published the following elliptical elements of this object:

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Heliocentric motion-Retrograde Period-53 years.

It appears likely that the comet may again be seen in the month of May next, at least at some of the southern observatories, in the early morning. Yet its lack of brilliancy may prevent its being generally noticed, for it will be only th as bright as it was on February 1, and that was not considerable.

BRIEF CORRESPONDENCE.

I fancy that the violet tinge observed by your correspondent F. B. in the projected image of the umbra of a solar crater, arises simply and solely from the over correction of the object-glass. I have seen it myself in the image of the penumbra, when thrown upon a card-board disc, and always attributed it to that cause. X.

Will some of your correspondents inform me, by a geometrical diagram or otherwise, the modus operandi of deducing the distance of a Comet from the Earth, from three observations thereof-taken, say, at intervals of a day, or two, or three, or more? A YOUNG ASTRONOMER.

[The intervals mentioned would be far too short to secure a reliable result, even with the aid of exact calculation. No "graphic" process would yield a determination of value with less intervals than two or three weeks between the observations.-ED. A. R.].

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THE PLANETS FOR APRIL.

Mercury will be favourably situated for observation in the evenings at the beginning of the month, setting about a quarter-past eight on the 1st, or more than an hour and a half after the Sun.

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Venus is now an evening star, setting about a quarter-past seven at the beginning, and about half-past eight o'clock at the end of the month. Venus and Mercury are near to each other on the 6th of April. Decl. + 6 57 Diameter 9"-8 139301

Ist R.A. I 15 54

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Mars may be seen in the mornings, and his southern declination decreasing, he will be better placed for observation. He rises about a quarter to

five o'clock on the 1st.

1st R.A. 22 28 35

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Jupiter may now be seen very well in the morning, rising on the 1st at a quarter-past three o'clock. His altitude is increasing.

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15th Saturn is now getting well placed for observation, and comes to opposition at the end of the month. His altitude, unfortunately, continues to decrease.

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Ist R.A. 14 37 41 Decl. 12 38 Diameter 16"-8 15th Dimensions of ringOuter major axis, 42"-4; outer minor axis, 14". Uranus, owing to its great north declination, may still be well observed in the western sky in the evenings.

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The following minor planets arrive at opposition this month:

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Following the practice of last year, we are again authorised by the Royal Astronomical Society to transfer to our pages such of the obituary notices as are likely to be interesting to those subscribers who are not Fellows of the Society, and we have selected those of Sir W. R. Hamilton and Admiral Smyth the former one of the most profound mathematicians, and the latter the great friend to amateur observers.

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