48 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Derc. 5 
The Bearing of Electrical Discharges on Solar Physics. 
[ ABSTRACT. | 
A. Indirect evidences favoring an electrical theory of the solar 
corona, . 
1, Evidences oblained from the visible spectrum of the corona.— 
The assumption that the visible coronal glow is due to electrical 
disturbances in the coronal regions has just as much probability 
in its favor as any other assumption, That part of the coronal 
light which is reflected sunlight may be due to a decomposition 
of tlre coronal vapors produced by the action of the ultra-violet 
light of the sun, or by the action of the electrical disturbances 
in the coronal regions. 
2. Hvidences oblained from the ultra-violet spectrum of the co- 
rona.—These evidences seem to indicate that the maximum 
enerey of the coronal spectrum is near its violet end. If so, 
this fact would speak very forcibly in favor of the assumption 
that the coronal light is due to electrical disturbances in the 
coronal regions. 
B.. On the admissible causes which are capable of producing elec- 
trical disturbances in the coronal regions. 
These causes are shown to be the electrical oscillatory dis- 
charges in the solar atmosphere, resulting from the electrical] 
tensions which are produced by the heterogeneous nature of 
the solar atmosphere, by internal friction and possibly also by 
chemical process. 
C. The effects of the electrical waves propagated through 
interplanetary space are then discussed, especially those due to 
the absorption of these waves by the gases which constitute the 
solar corona, Various cases are considered, and it is pointed 
out that all the various coronal forms can be explained in a sci- 
entifically legitimate manner by the abovementioned absorptiors 
of the electrical waves. Lines of laboratory research capable of 
throwing more light upon these evidences are then discussed, 
and the author concludes his remarks with a promise of exhibit- 
ing very soon before the Astronomical Sectionsome experiments 
which have a direct bearing upon the various questions dis- 
cussed in the paper. 
Pror. Rers then referred briefly to the observations of Holmes’ 
comet made at Columbia College Observatory by himself and 
by Mr. Jacoby and Mr. Monell. These observations will be 
published in the Astronomical Journal. He also gave an account 
