190 Total Eclipse of August 7, 18G9. 



was illuminated by the light of the sun in the same way 

 that our atmosphere is illuminated in twilight. This will 

 undoubtedly explain the luminosity found nearest the 

 disk; but it can hardly be received as satisfactory in re- 

 gard to the luminous prongs which extend out to such a 

 great distance. It musl be remembered that these prongs 

 projected a distance greater than the whole diameter of 

 the sun, and must have reached an attitude, if they be- 

 longed to the sun, of at least a million of miles. This is 

 of course, beyond all possibility, and the idea of the whole 

 phenomenon being of solar-atmospheric origin is unte- 

 nable. Equally untenable must be the idea that it is a 

 solar aurora, because an aurora supposes an atmospheric 

 medium in which it exhibits itself. 



"The impression which was firmly made upon my mind 

 by witnessing it, was that in some way, the interstriated 

 part at least, was formed in the earth's atmosphere." 



2. Red Protuberances. 



" The second phenomenon attracting attention, was that 

 of the sudden appearance of a number of protuberances of 

 various shape and magnitude, which projected beyond the 

 black disk of the moon, and were of a bright rosy red 

 color. We saw six or eight in all. It must be remem- 

 bered that these were of immense size. The largest was 

 not less than 30,000 miles in altitude. They seemed to 

 have a cloudy consistency, and the form of some of them 

 forbade the idea that they could have been either solid or 

 liquid. These protuberauco.s are seen in all total eclipses, 

 but in no two are they in the same place or of the same 

 form. They are thus shown to be of a changeable and 

 transitory character. This was really all that could cer- 

 tainly be known about them, until the application of the 

 spectroscope to celestial bodies gave us a new road to a 



