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yjrjk i^tii v;a kJ \ . uv/ui u ^ ucu u* nu.i • w--promote the Interest* of the Chesapeake Zoological Laboratory.I learned from Mr. itagusa that Siguor Cacciatore, lately director of the observatory, is not living, and that his place is nowfilled by Signor tticco. Hut 1 had no introduction to this gentleman, and felt a little hesitation, quite needless, as it proved, as to calling upon him. At any rate, I was determined not to go to the observatory without first becoming familiar with the history of the discovery that has given it such renown. Fortune favored my research. In an antiquary's shop I bought for a few francs a pamphlet, addressed by Ptazzi to his sovereign iu 1902, giving in popular language an account of the circumstances which led to the successful search for a planet between Mars and Jupiter. I hold that pamphlet iu my baud*. On it* title page there is a vignette, which shows the city of Palermo, its quay, its mole and it* shipping. Beyond the city rises Monte Pellegrino— a characteristicpeak nearly 2,000 feet in height. In the Heaven* Is a figure of the planet Jupiter, attended by four moons and the planet Marsand between the two Ceres rides triumphant iu her oar. Above the picture a recent hand has written the cryptogram of Kepler, (A. D. 15P6,' Inter Jlt;tvfm it Martem plane lam tnlcr-plt;mit. A little beyond the title is an elevation of the observatory as it appeared iu 1902. This I compared with a view of the observatory in 1900. Piazzi't dome is still tn it* original place, though now surmounted by alarger dome. The elements of the structure are unchanged. This seat of astronomies science, as I have intimated already, risesabove the Cape 11a Palatina, above the roof or the royal palace, and it is the highest point upon the plain of Palermo.But I learned much more from the letterpress of the pamphlet than from its pictures. After allusions to Kepler’s prophecy, and to the announcement of Bode's law, and the discovery of Herschel, he speaks of the association of twenty-four astronomers, which was formed near the end of the eighteenth century to look for the prophesied planet. Piazzi, it appears, in his remote home, did not even know that he were invited to be one of the co-operating observers. He was engaged in hU own line of research, mapping the stars tn a certain region of the sky, when he met with the good fortune to which others had aspired in vain. It is needless to give the details of a story which is a well-known chapter in the history of modern astronomy.After having refreshed my memory of Piazr.Fs discovery I went to the observatory, and climbed up the successive flight of stairswhich leads to the director's apartment. Itwas only necessary to present an official card and the astronomer came at once to welcome us. I know the Hopkins University, he said, “from it* publication*. On the wall of▲ l. — 111. I L I « L — a ■ ■ - — i %* /I m a
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