THE SOLAR ECLIPSE. 305 



the 38-foot telescope, was seen in the light of the moon, the extensive 

 field with these preparations, exhibited a still more picturesque scene 

 than by day. 



Less imposing, and perhaps more ungainly was the combination of 

 four great cameras under the main shed, designed to search for new 

 planets and to depict the outer corona. These might well be described 

 as like a cabin and outbuilding, mounted on a polar axis, yet, despite 

 their awkward proportions, they were made to follow very accurately. 



The morning of the eclipse dawned cloudless and very fairly 



clear. Deep blue sky, such as the writer had seen on Pike's Peak, of 



• course, is not among the ordinary possibilities of an eclipse, but the 



milkiness of the blue was less pronounced than is usual in the summer 



season, and all felt that the seeing promised well. 



At fifteen minutes before totality a series of rapid strokes on the 

 bell called every one to his post, and one minute before the expected 

 contact five strokes were given as a final warning. Coincidentally with 

 the actual observation of the second contact by Mr. Putnam, the first 

 two strokes upon the bell sounded, and the work began. After 82 

 seconds (the duration of totality from the Nautical Almanac was 92 

 seconds), three strokes were given as a signal to stop the long photo- 

 graphic exposures. Scarcely more than five seconds after this the sun's 

 crescent reappeared. The duration of totality, as observed by Mr. Put- 

 nam, was approximately 88 seconds. 



To visual observers the sky was notably not a dark one. No second 

 magnitude stars were observed with the naked eye, and most of the 

 on-lookers saw only Mercury conspicuously, though Venus was distin- 

 guished at a low altitude and Capella also was seen. So high a degree 

 of sky illumination can not but have operated unfavorably in the study 

 of the outer corona or in the search for intra-mercurial planets, and 

 this is to be remembered in connection with what follows. 

 Before Totality. 



A deepened color in the sky, a fall of temperature and a rising 

 breeze were distinctly noticeable. No change in direction of the wind 

 was noted. Shadow bands were seen, but those who attempted to 

 measure their velocity found them too rapid and flickering for any 

 great exactness in this determination. There was tolerable unanimity 

 among independent observers as to their size and distance apart (about 

 five inches), though some thought this less as totality approached. 



It was noticed that the birds grew silent just before and during 

 totality, but true to their nature, the English sparrows were last to be 

 still and first to begin their discussion of the eclipse, after the return 

 of light. 



During Totality. 



The attention of all visual observers was at once caught by the 



