ON THE NATURE OF THE SUN. 17 



luminous clouds from the place where it meets with the lead 

 refinance ; or which by its nature diflblves them as it comes 

 up to them. If it be an elaftic gas, its levity mull be fuch as 

 to make it afcend through the inferior region of the folar 

 clouds, and diflufe itfelf among the fuperior luminous matter, 

 l h ]0 m the new branch G increafes, and the openings C DE 

 are enlarged. A new branch is alio breaking out from the 

 mallow about E. It is marked H in Fig. 14, and denoted 

 with points. Thefe changes feem to prove that the fame gas 

 which diffufes itfelf over the (hallows, has forced open the 

 palfages at flrft, and is now widening them. Hence the in- 

 creafe of the openings is an additional circumftance which 

 points out the caufe of the (hallows. l h 20 m : from the mal- 

 low of a very large preceding opening, which is in an in- 

 creafing (fate, are lately projected three fmall branches, 

 a b c, Fig. 17. 2 h 30 m the vacancies between the three fmall 

 projecting (hallows are now filled up by the fame caufe that 

 occafioned them, fo as to have given them the fhape of an 

 uniform but broader (hallow on the fide where the points 

 came out. 



The (hallows have none of the appearance called corruga- Particular ap« 

 tions, but are tufted. The clofe connedion of the tufts makes. gjjjjj ° f the 

 them appear as if in every vacancy there were clouds under They are tufted 

 clouds, that prevented our looking far into them. The decay J 1 ^ 1 "^" of 

 of the (hallows appears to be produced by the encroachment 

 of the luminous clouds on all fides, in confequence of the 

 diminution of the energy which caufed them." 



Of Ridges, 

 Ridges are elevations above the general furface of the Ridges, or ele- 

 luminous clouds of the fun. The length of one of the longed J^Swf clouds 

 was found to be about 75,000 miles. They generally fur- of the fun. 

 round the openings, though they are often feen in places 

 where there are no openings. They are foon difperfed. 

 From the appearances, the author thinks it probable that the 

 luminous matter is difturbed at top by the tranfparent elaftic 

 fluid which ifTues from the openings, or that it may a6l below 

 the luminous clouds, fo as to lift them up or increafe their 

 mafs. 



Vol. I.— * January, C Of 



