206 Total Eclipse of August 7, 1869. 



The burst of sunlight at reappearance seemed instanta- 

 neous, and so brilliant and overpowering that I omitted to 

 note the time. The change of temperature during the 

 progress of the eclipse was very marked, every one noting 

 the chilliness increase as the shadow advanced. The 

 thermometer showed the following record in the shade : 



showing a change of 13° during the progress of the eclipse. 

 Both before and during the eclipse I saw in the telescope 

 shooting swiftly across its field, a number of bright white 

 objects, perhaps 20 in all, never more than one or two at 

 the same time, generally moving in the same direction, 

 downwards. It is possible they might have been small 

 meteoric bodies, but I imagined at the time that they were 

 insects. 



Yours, very truly, 



J. C. House. 



Observations of Thermometer in the Sun by 

 Prof. T. H. Smith. 



