eet above the interior, which is of an uneven tone. The rampart
exhibits some breaks, especially on the S. The outer slope on the W. is
traversed by a fine deep valley, distinctly marked when the opposite side
is on the morning terminator. It originates on the S.W. at a prominent
crater situated a little below the crest of the wall, and, following its
curvature, runs out on to the plain near a large mountain just beyond the
foot of the N. border. In addition to the crater just mentioned, there
are two smaller ones below the summit of the S. wall, and a small
circular depression on the S.E. wall. Mr. W.H. Maw, F.R.A.S., has seen,
with a 6 inch Cooke refractor, a bright marking at the N. extremity of
the ring, which, when examined with a Dawes' eyepiece, resembled an
imperfect crater. The floor includes at least four objects--(1) A crater
on the N.W., standing on a circular light area; (2) a white spot a little
S. of the centre; (3) a smaller white spot S.E. of this; (4) another,
near the inner foot of the S.W. wall. Marius is an imposing object under
oblique illumination, mainly because of the number of ridges by which it
is surrounded. I have frequently remarked at sunrise that the surface on
the W., and especially the outer slope of the rampart, is of a decided
brown or sepia tint, similar to that which has already been noticed with
respect to Geminus and its vicinity, viewed under like conditions.
Schmidt in 1862 discovered a long serpentine cleft some distance N. of
Marius, which has not been seen since.

ARISTARCHUS.--The brightest object on the moon, forming with Herodotus (a
companion ring-plain on the E.), and its remarkable surroundings, one of
the most striking objects which the telescope has revealed on the visible
surface, and one requiring much patient observation before its manifold
details can be fully noted and duly appreciated. Its border rises 2000
feet above the outer surface on the W., but towers to more than double
this height above the glistening floor. No lunar object of its moderate
dimensions (it is only about 29 miles in diameter) has such conspicuously
terraced walls, or a greater number of spurs and buttresses; which are
especially prominent on the S. A valley runs round the outer slope of the
W. wall, very similar to that found in a similar position round Marius.
There is also a distinct valley on the brilliant inner slope of the E.
wall, below its crest. It originates at a bright little crater