nstellation of Perseus and those in
November from a point in the constellation Leo. They are believed to
fill two distinct orbits or rings making an elliptical orbit round the
sun. In such orbits, comets are believed by astronomers to be formed
by a concentrated swarm of incandescent meteorites rendered luminous
by collisions. But this hypothesis of innumerable collisions between
meteorites travelling in the same orbits does not appear very
plausible.

This doctrine of the genesis of comets, advanced by Schiaparelli, is
extended by Mr. Lockyer to the genesis of all great luminous bodies.
Nebulae, comets, stars, variable and temporary stars, are all thus
brought under a general law and method of genesis. The increasing
approximation and condensation of the meteorites is seen in different
classes of stars. Stars of the class iii.a are not so far advanced as
others.

The next step in the hypothesis is that in the extreme approximation
and condensation of the meteorites a degree of heat is generated which
converts the whole into a mass of incandescent vapor, at a
"transcendental temperature." The maximum temperature being thus
attained, a cooling process begins, which is seen in our sun and other
stars of the second class. Other stars, according to Mr. Lockyer, of
class iii.b exhibit spectra which show that their temperature is not
so high, and the last stage is attained by stars and other bodies
which have ceased to be luminous, and, therefore, are not seen, but
may be recognized by the perturbations which they produce in the
movements of other bodies.

According to this hypothesis our solar system was once but a mighty
swarm of meteorites, extending as far as the farthest planet at
present. We may as well suppose its materials to have been a swarm of
meteorites as to suppose a chaotic fire-mist. Mr. Lockyer supposes the
clash of meteor swarms to have produced new stars, and suggests the
possibility of stellar or planetary bodies coming into collision,
though no observations ever made yet give an example.

The destroyed planet, Sideros, discovered by Prof. Denton, illustrates
that the universe has its disorder and tragedy as well as our own
sphere. The time is coming when all these mysteries are to be cleared
up--it will be when Psychometry is added to our telescopic and
spectroscopic methods. Then will astronomy and all other sciences
receive their grandest enlargement. In this task I cannot at present
engage, for t