Clifton College Sclendfc Society. 107 



The paper then proceeded to describe the methods of olDservation 

 and calculation, and explained the difficidties of exact observation on 

 account of " the blacl? drojj." If we heat a platinum wire to a white 

 heat it appears as thick as coarse string, and, in a similar waj, the light 

 of the sun makes Venus, in crossing, seem too small until she reaches 

 the edge, when the light on that side is cut off, and slie seems to put 

 out a small black claw to the edge of the sun's disc — just in the same 

 way as if we look at a window with a half-shut eye, we see a fringe of 

 light surrounding it, and if we pass a finger between our eye and the 

 window we shall find it diSicult to mark the exact time when it crosses 

 the frame, because the fringe surrounding the frame is cut into by the 

 fringe smToundiug the finger. 



MEETING, February 28th, 1875. 

 The President in the Chair. 



The second meeting of the term was held in the Physical Lecture 

 Room. Owing to the inclemency of the weather there were only 

 Eighteen members present. 



The Secretary, G-. Dakyns, was then moved to the chair, and G. H. 

 Wollaston, M.A., proceeded to read a paper upon " Platiua." 



The paper was illustrated by several curious and interesting 

 specimens, which belonged to the late W. H. Wollaston, M.D. 



The meeting was closed by an unanimous vote of thanks to Mr. 

 Wollaston. 



MEETING, March 11th, 1875. 

 The President in the Chair. 



The last meeting for the term was held in the Physical Lecture 

 Room. There were Sixty-two members and visitors present. 



G. Dakyns, the Secretary of the Society, was moved to the chair. 

 The President then read a pajjer on " Volcanoes." 



An unanimous vote of thanks to Mr. Wollaston closed the proceeding. 



SECOND TERM, 1875. 



MEETING, May 13th, 1875. 

 The President in the Chair. 



The first meeting of the second term of the year 1875 was held in 

 Physical Lecture Room. There were Twenty-three members ].resent. 



