132 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [J 



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covered the eastern limb unci this range, as it wcre^ of burning 

 mountains, it uncovered a similar range, ^vith its high peaks, on 

 the western limb, and brought into better view a like phenomenon 

 on its lower limb. This band of red light, with its remarkable 

 excrescences, is probably the chromosphere and its protuberances. 



Thermometrical observations were made by Prof. Pickering, 

 with the followiug results: "Shortly before the eclipse the ther- 

 mometer rose, attaining its maximum at the instant of contact, so 

 that when three digits of 14 per cent, of the sun's disc was 

 obscured, the temperature was about the same as before the 

 eclipse. -Again, the thermometer began to rise after the eclipse 

 was over. These anomalies^ Prof. Pickering thinks, are explained 

 by the photographs taken at the same time. The increased 

 brightness which they show along the moon's linib, proves, he 

 supposes, that the latter augmented the active power of those 

 parts of the sun's disc nearest to it, and thus renders the increase 

 of heat very probable. This is, at least, another contribution to 

 the many explanations of this knotty point. 



The photographers' delineations of the eclipse are many, and 

 very beautiful. Photographs were taken during totality by Dr. 

 Curtis, at DesMoines ; by Mr. Willard, at Burlington ; by Messrs. 

 Brown and Baker, at Ottumwa; by Messrs. James Clifibrd, 

 Curbutt, and other gentlemen, at Mount Pleasant; by Mr. Black, 

 of Boston, at Springfield, 111. ; by Mr. "Whipple, at Selbyville, 

 Kentucky ; and by ourselves, at Jefferson. Prof. Davidson took 

 photographic apparatus to Alaska; but we have not heard what 

 use he made of it. Several other observers, whose telescopes 

 were not provided with clock-work, took pictures during partial 

 obscuration only. 



At DesMoines 120 pictures were taken during the partial, and 

 2 during the total eclipse. They are all faultless. The pictures, 

 before and after totality, were taken at regular intervals, and 

 carefully timed, so as to assist in the correction of nautical tables. 

 The two pictures of totality are probably the grandest photo- 

 graphs of an eclipse ever taken. They are 5 J- inches in diameter, 

 and were exposed 120 and 40 seconds respectively. Owing to 

 this lengthy exposure the first picture exhibits the chromosphere 

 all round, and shows, combined in one i^icture, passing phases 

 which were not visible at any one moment. Scientifically, this is 

 a disadvantage. It shows the most exquisite detail in the struc- 

 ture of the chromosphere, especially in a group of fantastic forms 



