Total Eclipse of August 7, 1 869. 203 



horizon, of what appeared both before and after a cloudless 

 sky. The transition from penumbra to umbra, although 

 rapid, did not seem absolutely instantaneous, it was a sweep- 

 ing upward and eastward of the dense violet shadow. This 

 shadow then stretched from the west north-west to the 

 east south-eastern horizon, while in the transverse direction 

 it did not reach the horizon by 6° or 8°, and the low arch 

 beneath was full of a deep orange yellow twilight. No dif- 

 ference was observed between the height of these arches. 

 The transition from the orange yellow of the northern 

 and southern horizon to the deep dusky violet of .the 

 zenith, during the total phase, was accomplished at an alti- 

 tude of 12° or 15°, and there the violet seemed darker than 

 in the zenith ; as though two broad dark arches ran, one 

 on each side the zenith from "W. N. W. to E. S. E. 



The coronse appeared to us a white ring of 4' or 5' in 

 breadth, with white rays 30' to 35' in length and a few 

 white petals 6' or 8' iu length, one of which on the right 

 upper limb was curved. No change was observed in the 

 coronse during the total phase, except that one of us 

 thought there was a tremulous flashing at the instant 

 before the reappearance of the sun. 



A crimson cloud on the lower limb was particularly 

 brilliant ; one on the left limb was brilliant at the begin- 

 ning ; and one on the right limb at the end of the total 

 phase. 



Respectfully yours, 



Thos. Hill. 



Trans, vi. 26 



