rant. Under the designation of
"Mercurius Falsus" it received great attention from Schroter, who gives
several representations of it in his _Selenotopographische Fragmente_,
which, though drawn in his usual conventional style, convey a juster idea
of its salient features than many subsequent drawings made under far
better optical conditions. The border, especially on the W., is very
complex, and is discontinuous on the S., where it is intersected by more
than one pass, and is prolonged far beyond the apparent limits of the
formation. The most noteworthy feature is the magnificent mountain chain
which traverses the floor from N. to S. It is interesting to watch the
progress of sunset thereon, and see peak after peak disappear, till only
the great central boss and a few minute glittering points of light,
representing the loftier portions of the chain, remain to indicate its
position. Madler expatiates on the sublime view which would be obtained
by any one standing on the highest peak and observing the setting sun on
one side of him and the nearly "full" earth on the other; while beneath
him would lie a vast plain, shrouded in darkness, surrounded by the
brilliantly illuminated peaks on the lofty border, gradually passing out
of sunlight. In addition to the central mountain range, there are some
large rings, craters, hillocks, &c., on the floor; and on the inner slope
of the W. border there is a very large circular enclosure resembling a
ring-plain, not recorded in the maps. Schmidt shows a row of large
craters on the outer slope of the E. border. Of these, one is very
conspicuous under a low evening sun, by reason of its brilliant walls and
interior. In the region between Gauss and Berosus is a number of narrow
steep ridges which follow the curvature of the E. wall.

STRUVE.--A small irregularly-shaped formation, open towards the S.,
forming one of the curious group of unsymmetrical enclosures associated
with Messala. Its dark floor and a small dusky area on the N. indicate
its position under a high sun.

CARRINGTON.--A small ring-plain, belonging to the Messala group,
adjoining Schumacher on the N.W.

MERCURIUS.--This formation is 25 miles in diameter. A small crater stands
on the S.E. section of the wall. There is a longitudinal range in the
interior, and on the W. and N.W. the remains of two large walled-plains,
the more westerly of which is a noteworthy object under suitable
conditions. A short distance S. is a larg