The conditions under which the comet will appear in 1910 are not unlike those of 1066 and 1145. "In each year the comet was discovered as a morning star, then lost in the sun's rays; on its emergence it was near the earth and moved with great rapidity, finally becoming stationary in the neighbourhood of Hydra, where it was lost to view."[203] In 1910 it will probably be an evening star before March 17, and after May 11, making a near approach to the earth about May 12. About this time its apparent motion in the sky will be very rapid. As, however, periodical comets--such as Halley's--seem to become fainter at each return, great expectations with reference to its appearance in 1910 should not be indulged in. The appearance of Halley's comet in A.D. 1222 is thus described by Pingré--a great authority on comets--(quoting from an ancient writer)-- "In autumn, that is to say in the months of August and September, a star of the first magnitude was seen, very red, and accompanied by a great tail which extended towards the top of the sky in the form of a cone extremely pointed. It appeared to be very near the earth. It was observed (at first?) near the place of the setting sun in the month of December." With reference to its appearance in the year 1456, when it was of "vivid brightness," and had a tail of 60° in length, Admiral Smyth says,[204] "To its malign influence were imputed the rapid successes of Mahomet II., which then threatened all Christendom. The general alarm was greatly aggravated by the conduct of Pope Callixtus III., who, though otherwise a man of abilities, was a poor astronomer; for that pontiff daily ordered the church bells to be rung at noon-tide, extra _Ave-Marias_ to be repeated, and a special protest and excommunication was composed, exorcising equally the Devil, the Turks, and the comet." With reference to this story, Mr. G. F. Chambers points out[205] that it is probably based on a passage in Platina's _Vitæ Pontificum_. But in this passage there is no mention made of excommunication or exorcism, so that the story, which has long been current, is probably mythical. In confirmation of this view, the Rev. W. F. Rigge has shown conclusively[206] that no bull was ever issued by Pope Callixtus III. containing a reference to _any_ comet. The story would therefore seem to be absolutely without foundation, and should be consigned to the limbo of all such baseless myths. With reference to the appearance of Halley's comet, at his last return in 1835, Sir John Herschel, who observed it at the Cape of Good Hope, says--