What distinguishes Saturn from all known planets, or heavenly bodies, and makes it unique in our universe, is the marvelous broad flat ring which encircles its equator at a considerable distance from it. With a low magnifying power this flat ring appears single, but when carefully examined with higher powers, it is found to consist of several distinct concentric rings and zones, all lying nearly in the same plane with the planet's equator. [PLATE X.--THE PLANET SATURN. Observed on November 30, 1874, at 5h. 30m. P.M.] At first sight only two concentric rings are recognized, the _outer_ and the _middle_, or _intermediary_, which are separated by a wide and continuous black line, called the _principal division_. This line, and indeed all the features of the surface of the rings are better seen, and appear more prominent on that part of the ring on either side called the _ansa_, or handle. Besides these two conspicuous rings, a third, of very dark bluish or purplish color, lies between this middle ring, to which it is contiguous, and the planet. This inner ring, which is quite wide, is called the _gauze_ or _dusky ring_. Closer examination shows that the outer ring is itself divided by a narrow, faint, grayish line called the pencil line, which, from its extreme faintness, is only visible on the ansæ. Moreover, the middle ring is composed of three concentric zones, or belts, which, although not apparently divided by any interval of space, are distinguished by the different shadings of the materials composing them. The outer zone of this compound middle ring is, by far, the brightest of all the system of rings and belts, especially close to its external border, where, on favorable occasions, I have seen it appear on the ansæ as if mottled over, and covered throughout with strongly luminous cloud-like masses. On the ansæ of the double outer ring, similar cloudy forms have also been seen at different times. The second zone of the middle ring is darker than the first, the innermost being darker still. All the characteristic points which have thus been described, are shown in Plate X.