ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. 311 



before totality, we saw with wonder a red flame siuldenly shoot 

 out from the upper edge of the moon, and shortl}^ alter the re- 

 markable and beautiful phenomenon of Bailly's lieads. The slen- 

 der crescent of light was suddenly broken up into numerous 

 globules, resembling drops of water flowing together, or a string 

 of beads. One observer compared it to a chain of sausages of 

 unequal lengths. 



This peculiar breaking up of the solar crescent was noticed by 

 Bailly in 1836. But during subsequent eclipses it has not gener- 

 ally been seen. This fact has led some of the ablest astronomers 

 to donbt its reality, believing it to be an optical illusion. 



At Mattoon, the appearance was distinctly seen by all the ob- 

 servers, and its duration recorded on the chronograph by Mr. 

 Swift and myself. That the phenomenon is real we have no 

 doubt. It is well known that the limb of the moon is exceedingly 

 rough and jagged, with mountains projecting to a great height. 

 Now it is reasonable to suppose that when this mountainous limb 

 of the moon cuts off the slender crescent of light it must be more 

 or less broken up into sections, depending on the irregularities 

 of the surlace and the position of the observer. We are moi'e 

 strengthened in this opinion, since previous to the first contact 

 Mr. Swift saw 5 mountain peaks on the moon, and he reported 

 the beads the most conspicuous in the region towards this part of 

 the lunar disc. 



The duration of Bailly's beads was accurately recorded on the 

 chronograph by Mr. Swift and myself, and found to be 5^ seconds. 

 This is the first exact record ever made of the duration of the 

 phenomenon. 



As the light grew less and less, suddenly the sun seemed to pass 

 under the black disc of the moon, producing a feeling of chilli- 

 ness. Now was seen in all its splendor the large red protuber- 

 ance sitting on the edge of the moon, and appearing very much 

 like a great ship under full sail. Farther to the left was another, 

 nearly as large, with two bent rays, somewhat resembling the 

 antlers of a deer. Five others, not quite as large, were seen on 

 diflerent parts of the disc, all of a deep-red color. 



After looking with astonishment for a few seconds, we pro- 

 ceeded to measure with the micrometer the height and position of 

 the largest flame. But just at the critical moment, fortunately or 

 unfortunately, one of the hand-rods for moving the telescope came 

 ofl', and it was necessary to remove the eye from the tube to fix it. 

 On looking up one of the grandest spectack's metilie eye of whicAt'' 

 it is possible to conceive. Surrounding the dark body of the moon 

 was a crown of light with rays shooting out in 5 great sheaths, 

 to a distance equal to the sun's diameter, or nearly a milliorv of 

 miles. For a time everything else was forgotten, and we gazed 

 for 8 or 10 seconds with astonishment, akin to awe, at thiS' mag- 

 nificent spectacle. No painting can represent it, and no pen can 

 describe it. It is one of those sights which must l^e seen to be ap- 

 preciated. But we soon realizetl that precious moments were 

 slipping away. The telescope was again brought in position, and 



