the line of sight. To indicate, therefore, the confidence which I had in the reasoning which had led me to the opinion that those five stars really are drifting together through space, as a single system, I predicted that whenever Dr. Huggins should apply to them the new spectroscopic method he would find that they were either all approaching or all receding, and at a common rate.

This prediction was exactly confirmed by the event two years later. It happened that Dr. Huggins had forgotten which of the seven stars form the drifting set of five, supposing the two pointers' or hind wheels of the Plough, the other two or front wheel-stars, and the first horse to be the five, whereas the five are the farthest pointer from the pole, the front wheel-stars, and the stars representing the two horses next to the wain. The observation of the pointer nearest to the pole showed that that star is approaching, and the observation of the pointer farthest from the pole showed that that star is receding at the rate of nearly twenty miles per hour. So Dr. Huggins judged that I was mistaken, at any rate as respected those two stars, which were seen to be travelling in different directions. He proceeded, however, with his observations. He found both the remaining wheel-stars receding at the rate of about twenty miles per second. The star representing the first horse was found to be receding at the same rate, and lastly the star representing the second horse. Here, then, were five stars receding at the rate of about twenty miles per second; but Dr.

Huggins supposed at the moment that these were not the five stars respecting which I had made my little prediction. On turning, however, to my Other Worlds' (published two years before his observations were made), he found that it was the set of five stars which he had found to be thus receding at a common rate which I had described as, in my belief, forming a drifting set.

I think the inference is fair that my general theory respecting local star-drifts is correct, and that among those stars which form our familiar systems there are groups travelling as systems through space. A strange thought truly, when we remember its consequences. It shows that, notwithstanding the enormous distances which separate these stars from each other, yet vaster distances, or rather distances of a higher order of vastness, separate that system of stars from the surrounding parts of the galaxy. It presents to us, also, the wonderful thought that cycles of revolution must exist within that system, compared with which the longest periods of motion recognised within our solar system must be regarded as absolutely insignificant. We are shown in such star systems an order of created things unlike any that before we had known. One other form of evidence has been given to show the infinite variety which pervades every part of the universe.

THE MILKY WAY.

Lo! these are but a portion of His ways; they utter but a whisper of His glory.-JOB Xxvi. 14.

IF on a calm, clear night, when there is no moon, we regard the star-lit sky, we see spanning the vast concave of the heavens a zone of cloudy light. In our country, where the air is seldom free from haze and vapour, even when it appears clearest, this wonderful zone is faint and indistinct. Only in certain portions can we recognise its lustre so distinctly as to feel assured (unless acquainted with its figure and position) that we are not looking at clouds high up in the air. But in southern latitudes the Milky Way is aglow with light. There it is seen as a brilliant band athwart the heavens

A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold,
And pavement stars, as stars to us appear.

We cannot wonder that the ancient astronomers should have looked with wonder on this amazing phenomenon. Steadfast as the stars amidst which its course is laid, the galaxy shone night after night before their eyes, and offered a noble problem for their thoughts. Nor did they

fail to perceive the meaning of that steadfastness which, to the unthinking, would have had no significance. They saw that the wondrous cloud must lie at an enormous distance; and that in all probability its light must be produced by the combined lustre of countless stars, removed to so great a distance as to be separately indistinguishable.

Manilius, their astronomical poet, puts forward this stupendous conception, and we find Ovid describing the Milky Way in terms not unlike (setting aside their Paganism) those in which one acquainted with modern astronomical results might poetically present them :

A way there is in heaven's extended plain,
Which when the skies are clear is seen below,
And mortals by the name of Milky know;

The groundwork is of stars, through which the road
Lies open to the Thunderer's abode.

But it is when the Milky Way is studied with the telescope that the true glories of this wonderful zone are seen. A large instrument is not needed. Galileo saw the wonders of the galaxy with his small and imperfect 'optic tube-a telescope which, in our day, though invaluable as a relic of the great astronomer, would be worth but a few shillings, so far as its optical performance is concerned. Wright of Durham analysed the depths of the Milky Way, and formed a sound opinion as to the true nature of the zone by means of a telescope only ten inches in length. The smallest telescope which opticians sell for

star-gazing, when turned upon certain parts of the galaxy, will reveal a scene of wonder which is calculated to fill the least thoughtful mind with a sense of the infinite power and wisdom of the Almighty. Countless stars pass into view as the telescope is swayed by the earth's rotation athwart the rich regions of the galaxy.

There are stars of all orders of brightness, from those which (seen with the telescope) resemble in lustre the leading glories of the firmament down to tiny points of light only caught by momentary twinklings. Every variety of arrangement is seen. Here the stars are scattered as over the skies at night; there they cluster in groups, as though drawn together by some irresistible power; in one region they seem to form sprays of stars like diamonds sprinkled over fern leaves; elsewhere they lie in streams and rows, in coronets and loops and festoons resembling the star festoon which, in the constellation Perseus, garlands the black robe of night. Nor are varieties of colour wanting to render the display more wonderful and more beautiful. Many of the stars which crowd upon the view are red, orange, and yellow. Among them are groups of two and three and four (multiple stars, as they are called) amongst which blue, and green, and lilac, and purple stars appear, forming the most charming contrast to the ruddy and yellow orbs near which they are commonly seen.

But it is when we consider what it is that we are really contemplating that the true meaning of the scene