ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. 391 



the north assumed a deep indigo color, while in the west the horizon was 

 pitch black, like night. In the east the clear sky was very pale blue, with 

 orange and red-like sunrise, and the hills in the south were very red. On the 

 shadow sweeping across, the deep blue in the north changed like magic to 

 pale sunrise tints of orange and red; the colors increased in brilliancy; 

 overhead, the sky was leaden. Some white houses at a little distance were 

 brought nearer, and assumed a warm yellow tint. The eclipse-shadow, also, 

 is mentioned by several observers. " Our position," says an astronomer 

 who had his position at Moncayo, " was very near the central line, and we 

 could distinctly mark the heavy black pall as it passed over us from the 

 northwest to the southeast; but its course was very rapid, and it seemed to 

 sweep past us like the legendary chase of the wild huntsman." 



On the interesting question as to the degree of intensity of the darkness 

 produced by a total eclipse, the testimony of observers seems to vary accord- 

 ing to their position. The following are some of the statements : 



" The darkness during totality was less than might have been expected. 

 It was easy to read and write the whole time, and no recourse to artificial 

 light was necessary." LeVem'er, near Tarrazona. 



" The darkness was great; thermometers could not be read." M. Lowe, 

 Fuente del Mar, near Santander. 



" For three minutes it certainly was very dark much too dark to read, 

 though I could just distinguish the figures on my watch ; but the moment the 

 least limb of the sun reappeared, it was astonishing how instantly the light 

 returned; and I can well understand how comparatively small is the diminu- 

 tion of light during a partial eclipse, even when the sun is almost completely 

 hidden." Mr. Packe, summit of Moncayo. 



The effects on man and nature are also thus noticed. Says an observer at 

 Santander : 



" The countenances of the men were of a livid pink. The Spaniards lay 

 down, and their children screamed with fear." 



Says an observer at Vittoria : 



"It is impossible to describe the awe which came over us all. I do not 

 hesitate to say that the whole scene was by far the most wonderful I have 

 ever beheld. There is no phenomenon in nature that can compare with it 

 in interest." 



Of the effects of the total obscuration on the brute creation, also, we have 

 the most copious accounts. Mr. Lowe, from Fuente del Mar, writes : 



" Fowls hastened to roost, ducks clustered together, pigeons dashed against 

 the sides of the houses, flowers closed (Hibiscus Africanus as early as five 

 minutes past two) ; at 2 : 52 cocks began to crow (ceasing at 2 : 57 and recom- 

 mencing at 3 : 05). As darkness came on, many butterflies which were seen 

 about flew as if drunk, and at last disappeared; the air became very humid, 

 so much so that the grass felt to one of the observers as though recently 

 rained upon." 



Father Secchi, the well-known astronomer of Rome, observed the eclipse 

 from the summit of Mount St. Michael, in the desert of Palinas, in Spain, but 

 did not see the phenomena of Baily's beads. He describes the corona, during 

 the whole time of the total eclipse, as magnificent, but most brilliant on the 

 side on which the eclipse began. Its light was uniformly of a beautiful 

 silvery white, shading oft' gradually from the margin of the moon to the 

 distance of about half its diameter. From this distance sheets of light shot 

 off in certain directions, some of them as long as a diameter and a quarter 



