to see it unmistakably." Each canal has its individual behavior of doubling, and the varying widths, and their evident seasonal relations utterly forbid the conception that their appearance is due to optical illusion. Mr. Lowell feels tolerably sure that the doubling, or gemination of the canals, show that the phenomenon is not only seasonal but vegetal. Why it should take this form is one of the most pregnant problems about the planet. For it is the most artificial-looking phenomenon of an artificial-looking disk. We quote a paragraph from the concluding chapter in his book: "To review, now, the chain of reasoning by which we have been led to regard it probable that upon the surface of Mars we see the effects of local intelligence. We find, in the first place, that the broad physical conditions of the planet are not antagonistic to some form of life; secondly, that there is an apparent dearth of water upon the planet's surface, and, therefore, if beings of sufficient intelligence inhabited it, they would have to resort to irrigation to support life; thirdly, that there turns out to be a network of markings covering the disk, precisely counterparting what a system of irrigation would look like; and, lastly, that there is a set of spots placed where we should expect to find the lands thus artificially fertilized, and behaving as such constructed oases should. All this, of course, may be a set of coincidences, signifying nothing; but the probability points the other way. As to details of explanation, any we may adopt will undoubtedly be found, on closer acquaintance, to vary from the actual Martian state of things; for any Martian life must differ markedly from our own." * * * * * In this brief résumé of Lowell's work on Mars but scant justice has been done to the many novel and convincing suggestions in explanation of the varied features marking the surface of Mars. There are many enigmas, however, awaiting solution, if we endeavor to explain them by comparison with the methods pursued by man on this Earth, and Mr. Lowell frankly admits the many difficulties in the way of a clear solution. I have already mentioned how puzzling the checker-board appearance of our Western townships would seem to a Martian, but this comparison does not help us to understand the so-called gemination of the canals, though we might have parallel sets of canals, as we have parallel lines of railways. The enormous distance which the water travels in the Martian canals must presuppose an artificial method of urging it on. Precisely how this operation might be accomplished is a question to be solved by the mechanical and hydraulic engineer.