586 Rof-al Society of Lomhn, 



XXXI V. Proctrditigs of Learntd Socle ties. 



A- 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



T the meeting of this learned body, on thfc '26th of 

 jMarch, there was read an hiftorical and anatoniical account 

 of a dubious amphibious animal^ only found in a fmali lake 

 in Camiola : by M. Schrader. 



On account of Pilffion and Eafter weeks there were no 

 meetings on the 2d and 9th of April. 



Oh the 17th the account of the animal \va;3 concluded^ 

 and the reading of a paper, by Dr. Herfchel, containing ob- 

 fervations on the nature of the fun, was commenced^ and 

 was continued on the 2'>^(\, but not then concluded. The 

 Doctor fays that continued obiervations have confirmed him 

 in his opinion that the fun is a magniGccnt habitable world, 

 and gives this paper as a more comprchenfive view of the 

 fubjc6l than the one formerly laid before the Society, (fee 

 Philofophical Magazine, Vol. V.) and fuch as a feries of 

 obfervations with an improved reflc<5lor has enabled him tni 

 make; obfervations which, the Do6i:or conceives, will be of 

 utility in future meteorological refearches. The names al- 

 ready in uie for the folar pha^nomena he objecis to, as con- 

 teving no meaning; fuch as fpots, maculrc, faculas, penum- 

 t)r£e, &c.; and wilhes to fubftitute for them, openings, flals^ 

 krancles, ridges, nodtdes, dimples, pundures. The open- 

 ings are what were denominated fpols, and he conceives arc 

 caufed tly an elatlic but not a luminous gas being difengaged 

 from the fun arid driving away the luminoils fluid, which en- 

 ables us to behold his body. Flats are what are ufttally called 

 penumbne, and are deprellions below the general furface of 

 tbc fun, but not fb deep as the body of it. Krancles are 

 irregular elevations and depreflions which cover the whole 

 di(k of the fttn. Ridges arc elevations above the general fur- 

 face of th^ fun : ridges generally accompany openings. This 

 ^aper ctfntains many moll curious obfervations on the altera- 

 tions and paffing into one another of thefe apptarances; bdt 

 as the reading of the papw is not yet iiaifhed, we forbear 

 itating any more at prefent.- 



ROYAL 



