12 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



graph of the solar spectrum yet obtained, but has succeeded 

 in getting an admirable photograph of the spectrum of a 

 star. It will thus become possible to study any changes that 

 may take place in the constitution of the stars or the sun by 

 the comparison of these photographs with such others as 

 may be taken at some future time. 12 A, X., 255. 



zollxer's theory of the solar spots. 



The theory of Zollner as to the constitution of the sun 

 and its spots has been thus described by him : The sun 

 is a glowing liquid body, surrounded by a glowing atmos- 

 phere ; in the latter, at a certain distance above the fluid 

 surface, there floats a covering, constantly renewing itself, 

 of shining clouds, like our own cumuli. At those places 

 where the cloud canopy is thinned, or dissipated, there arise 

 on the glowing surface, by reason of powerful radiation, the 

 slag-like products of cooling. These, therefore, lie deeper 

 than the general level of the shining clouds, and form the 

 nuclei of the sun spots. Above these cooled regions there 

 are formed descending currents of air, which give rise to a 

 circulation of the atmosphere around the edges of the islands 

 of slag, to which circulation the penumbra owes its origin. 

 The cloud-like results of condensation, which are formed 

 w r ithin the region of this circulation, have their shape and 

 temperature determined by the nature of the circulation 

 itself, and must, therefore, in consequence of their lower 

 temperatures, appear less brilliant than the other portions 

 of the cloud canopy of the solar surface, and seem depressed 

 like a funnel, by reason of their descending motion above 

 the spot. The exterior edge of the penumbra is at the level 

 of the shining canopy. Poggendorff Anncden, CL., 300. 



AXCIENT OBSERVATIONS OF SOLAR SPOTS. 



In the 29th volume of the meteorological observations at 

 Lyons, France, an account is given of some early observa- 

 tions of the solar spots made by Father Beraud. In 1741, 

 on the 8th of April, he observed eight pretty large spots on 

 the sun. From the lGth to the 30th a remarkable spot 

 fixed his attention. It was composed of an obscure portion 

 of irregular form, situated between two black points, the 

 whole enveloped by a brown cloud composed of small black 



