e the floor, is conspicuously brilliant. This formation
exhibits a marked departure from the circular type, being bounded by
rectilineal sides. The inner slope of the W. wall is slightly terraced.
The border on the S. is much lower than elsewhere, as is evident when the
formation is on the evening terminator. On the N. is the deep crater
Messala _a_.

NEWCOMB.--The most prominent of a group of formations standing in the
midst of the Haemus Mountains. Its crest is nearly 12,000 feet above the
floor, on which there are some hills.

MESSALA.--This fine walled-plain, nearly 70 miles in diameter, is, with
its surroundings, an especially interesting object when observed under a
low angle of illumination. Its complex border, though roughly circular,
displays many irregularities in outline, due mainly to rows of
depressions. The best view of it is obtained when the W. wall is on the
evening terminator. At this phase, if libration is favourable, the
manifold details of its very uneven and apparently convex floor are best
seen. On the S.W. side is a group of large craters associated with a
number of low hills, of which Schmidt shows five; but I have seen many
more, together with several ridges between them and the E. wall. I noted
also a cleft, or it may be a narrow valley, running from the foot of the
N.W. wall towards the centre. On the floor, abutting on the N.E. border,
is a semicircular ridge of considerable height, and beyond the border on
the N.E. there is another curved ridge, completing the circle, the wall
forming the diameter. This formation is clearly of more ancient date than
Messala, as the N.E. wall of the latter has cut through it. Where Messala
joins Schumacher there is a break in the border, occupied by three deep
depressions.

SCHUMACHER.--A large irregular ring-plain, 28 miles in diameter,
associated with the N. wall of Messala, and having other smaller rings
adjoining it on the E. and N. The interior seems to be devoid of detail.

HOOKE.--Another irregular ring-plain, 28 miles in diameter, on the N.E.
of Messala. There is a bright crater of considerable size on the S.W.,
which is said to be more than 6000 feet in depth, and, according to
Neison, is visible as a white spot at full. There is a smaller crater on
the slope of the N.W. wall.

SHUCKBURGH.--A square-shaped enclosure on the N. of the last, with a
comparatively low border. It has a conspicuous crater at its N.W. corner.

BERZELIUS.--A considerab