280 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



ECLIPSE OBSERVATIONS. 



In connection with the total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, the belt 

 of totality of which passed through Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Southern 

 Liberia, French Kongo, Kongo State, and British East Africa, the 

 Department made geophysical observations at various stations and 

 also secured cooperation at stations the world over, inside and outside 

 the region of visibility of the eclipse. The observations at many of 

 these cooperating stations have already been received. 



The Department's observations were as follows: 



Inside the totality-belt. — Magnetic, electric, meteorological, and shadow- 

 band observations at Sobral, Brazil, by Observers D. M. Wise and A. Thom- 

 son, the sky being clear during totality, which lasted here a little over 5 

 minutes; and at Cape Palmas, Liberia, by the Director and Magnetician H. F. 

 Johnston. Totality lasted at Cape Palmas the unusual length of 6| minutes 

 and the sky was almost entirely clear throughout the eclipse, from beginning 

 to end. For results, see abstract, page 311. 



Outside the totality-belt. — Huayao, Peru, by Dr. H. M. W. Edmonds and 

 Assistant Observer F. G. Rosemberg; Puerto Deseado, Argentina, by Observer 

 A. Sterling; Campo, Cameroun, by Observer F. Brown; Watheroo Observa- 

 tory, West Australia, by Magnetician W. F. Wallis and Observer W. C. 

 Parkinson; and at Washington, D. C, by Computer C. R. Duvall. Only 

 Watheroo and Washington were outside the region of visibility of the eclipse. 



OBSERVATORY WORK. 



Western Australia. — The buildings for the magnetic work were com- 

 pleted in time to begin the photographic registration of the magnetic 

 variations on January 1, 1919. The inauguration of the work in 

 terrestrial electricity has had to be deferred until 1920, the present 

 heavy costs and difficulties of construction making it imperative to 

 postpone the erection of the required auxiliary buildings. After three 

 years' faithful and arduous work, it will be possible, toward the end 

 of the fiscal year, to relieve Mr. W. F. Wallis, who has been in charge 

 of the constructional and observational work at Watheroo since 1916. 

 Magnetician E. Kidson, after his discharge from the British Army in 

 June, reentered the employ of the Department and will assume charge 

 of the Watheroo Observatory in October 1919. Observer W. C. Park- 

 inson, as in the past, has been the chief assistant at this station. 



Peru. — In view of the extensive experience now gained by Dr. 

 H. M. W. Edmonds in observatory work and field work in terrestrial 

 magnetism, he was detached from service as surgeon and magnetician 

 aboard the Carnegie, and intrusted with the responsible task of the 

 construction and equipment of a magnetic observatory in Peru at 

 Huayao, near Huancayo, situated about 125 miles east of Lima, at an 

 elevation above sea-level of about 11,000 feet. Dr. Edmonds arrived 

 at Lima in March and is making as rapid progress as the conditions 

 permit. He is assisted by Assistant Observer F. G. Rosemberg, a 



