105 



2. The self-luminosity. 



3. The chanojefulness and flickering. 



There is one point in which it differs from the solar 

 corona, but this is no more than must be expected. The 

 shading off of the light in the solar corona is much more 

 rapid than that in its electrical analogue. If however the 

 pressure of the air could be caused to vary so that it was 

 denser round the ball, even this difference could be done 

 away with. 



In this experiment, then, we have actually produced all 

 the very features which are so extraordinary in the larger 

 phenomenon, and were there no other evidence than this 

 that the solar corona may be electrical, it seems to me that 

 this resemblance constitutes very strong proof. When two 

 things existing at different times, or in different places, 

 resemble each other perfectly, and resemble nothing else in 

 the range of our knowledge, surely that is high probability 

 that they are similar. 



We may, however, expect, if the sun is electrical, to find 

 some direct indications of its electricity; nor are such 

 wanting. They are increasing every day. There is the 

 sun's effect on the electricit}^ of the earth's atmosphere, its 

 magnetism, and the aurora; the connection between the 

 sun spots and the earth, and the connection between the 

 planets and the sun spots, as shown by M. De la Rue and 

 Dr. Balfour Stewart. It must be admitted that there are 

 evident signs of some influence which the planetary bodies 

 have on the sun and it on them ; which is not gravity nor 

 the result of gravity, yet the result of heat. Almost all 

 these sio"ns are of an electrical character, and some are 

 electricity itself Moreover, electricity or electric induc- 

 tion is the only other action at a distance besides gravity 

 and heat that takes place, Is it not, then, probable that 

 this influence is electrical ? Are we to reject an hypo- 

 thesis which explains some of these phenomena, and may 



