50 ART. 19. N. ICHINOHE : 



middle of eclipse, increases and that the companion will be not 

 absolutely dark. 



(g) LIGHT-CURVE. 



The light-curve of the Algol-variable is, in general, symmet- 

 rical with respect to the minimum : and in 58 Algols, of which 

 I was able to find the light-curves ; or, at least, some indications 

 of the character of the light-curve, 44 stars show the curves 

 symmetrical ; or, at least, very nearly symmetrical, and only in 

 the remaining 14 cases does the light-curve practically deviate 

 from the symmetry. But even in these 14 cases, the most part 

 of them exhibits a very slight degree of asymmetry so that the 

 real existence of the deviation is suspected for these stars. Thus, 

 from the above combined with the facts that follow, we may 

 conclude that the orbit of the Algol-system has, in general, very 

 small eccentricity ; or, in the other words, the orbit is generally 

 circular and only in a few cases, it is pretty eccentric. 



When we examine the light-curves which are not symmet- 

 rical, we shall find again it to be a general tendency that the 

 increase of light is quicker than the decrease, as it is generally 

 the case in the variable of long and short periods. 



Among the Algols exhibiting the symmetrical light- curve, we 

 see that 14 cases of them are of flat minimum, a constant light 

 continuing in some interval at the minimum. Such light-curve 

 was at first found in U Cephei, but according to Nijland (A. J. 

 B., XI, 633), a stationary minimum is usual for the Algol. Never- 

 theless, as the Algols which show a character so pronounced as 

 that of S Verolum, RZ Ophiuchi and VW Cygni, are not very 

 frequent, we may say that the components of the Algol-system 

 are, in general, comparable with each other in their diameters. 



