50 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [NOV. 25, 



Prof. Tacchini had tliought of joining Father Perry, but was 

 prevented, unfortunately for science, at tlie last moment. 



It is reported that M. de la Baunie, of Paris, an amateur who 

 was disappointed in Russia in 1887, is going to Trinidad, and 

 we have heard that Miss E. Brown and Miss Jeffries will be 

 located somewhere on the same island. 



A telegram received to-day from Prof. E. C. Pickering in- 

 forms me that Harvard College will not send any party. 



The Lick Observatory, through the generosity of Hon. Charles 

 F. Crocker, will send a party to Cayenne. This party consists 

 of Mr. S. W. Burnham, the distinguished double-star observer, 

 and Mr. Schaeberle from Mount Hamilton, They will be 

 joined by the well-known amateur, Mr. Eockwell, of Tarrytown. 

 I have not seen any official statement of their apparatus or of 

 the work they will attempt. There is no doubt that it will con- 

 sist mainly in photographic work on the corona. Mr. Burnham 

 will remain at Cayenne for two or three months, and examine 

 the southern heavens for double stars. 



The United States Government has sent a party to Africa 

 under the charge of Prof. D. P. Todd. His chief assistant is 

 Prof. F. H. Bigelow, of Washington. The Observatory of Co- 

 lumbia College is represented in this party by Mr, L. H. Jacoby, 

 who is second astronomical assistant. 



All the expeditions will pay great attention to the corona. 

 Photographs will be made so as to show the details and the ex- 

 tension of the crown of glory surrounding the totally eclipsed 

 sun. 



Prof. Todd expects to take his party up the Kwanza River 

 some one hundred miles from its mouth, and mount liis instru- 

 ments on the site of an old Portuguese fort. Here totality lasts 

 about 3m., beginning about 3 p.m., with the sun about 45° high. 

 He may send a party, under Mr. Jacoby, further into the inte- 

 rior, so as to avail himself of all chances. An attempt will be 

 made by this American party to photograph the corona by 

 polarized light. This has not been done before, and if success- 

 ful will doubtless give valuable information about the details of 

 the corona. 



The region into which this expedition penetrates is considered 

 very dangerous to health. Every precaution will be taken, and 

 it is to be hoped that no loss of life will occur among these en- 

 thusiastic and devoted scientists. 



On December 22d the sun will be very near the winter solstitial 

 point ; its motion in declination will be about 1" of arc j^er 

 hour; hence, during the short time that totality lasts, there will 

 be only one motion to deal with — the diurnal motion of the 

 earth. The latitude of the place of observation is about 9^ 



