PLATE IX

MAY 19MAY 22
Snow fell May 19
JUNE 5JUNE 9–10
JUNE 13JUNE 11–13

DRAWINGS OF CANALS OF MARS BY THE AUTHOR

The expression "poor seeing" in the above notes must be taken in a comparative sense with relation to the usual conditions of the atmosphere of Flagstaff. Poor seeing, therefore, at Flagstaff would be equal, if not superior, to the best seeing at much lower levels. An astronomer who resigned his position in a western observatory for duties at Mount Wilson, California, told me that for thirty consecutive nights the seeing was superior to the best nights he had observed in at his former post.


[XV]
WHAT THE MARTIANS MIGHT SAY OF US

O wad some power the giftie gie us,
To see oursels as others see us!

Robert Burns.

For every single perplexity of interpretation we encounter in our study of the surface markings of Mars, the Martian would encounter a dozen perplexities in interpreting the various features on the surface of the Earth.