456 MR WILLIAM SWAN ON THE 
by the fact, that the moon was seen by degrees to cover those which were situated 
on the side towards which it was moving, while it as gradually exposed those on 
the other side. 
Of all the phenomena of the eclipse, there is none on which the testimony of 
the observers is more unanimous, than it is regarding this; and there is certainly 
none which, at the time, seemed to me more striking and beautiful, or which is 
now more strongly impressed on my memory. 
The only observer whose testimony is decidedly opposed to the fact, that the 
moon occulted the prominences on one side, and disclosed them on the other, is 
Mr Dunx1n, who watched the hook-shaped prominence for more than a minute, 
without perceiving the slightest change in its appearance. ‘It seemed to me,” he 
remarks, ‘‘ from the excessive steadiness of this prominence, and from the fact 
that I had zealously watched it for so long an interval without its undergoing 
any change, that this object had some connexion with the moon.” He adds, 
however, ‘‘as my observations have been all made under rather difficult circum- 
stances, it is possible I may be deceived.” * 
In opposition to this observation, we have the testimony of a large number 
of persons who saw the moon gradually occult those prominences which were 
situated on the sun’s eastern limb, while those on the western limb were gradually 
elongated; and, in some instances, additional ones were seen on the west side, 
towards the end of the eclipse, which were not visible at the beginning. 
Thus Mr Jckson states, that “ on a second view, a little before the sun re- 
appeared, a fourth prominence shewed itself at about 45° from the vertex towards 
the west, and the other prominences, especially the hook-shaped one, were elon- 
gated.”+ Mr SrerpHenson remarks, that the large hook-shaped prominence “ in- 
creased in size very rapidly, and then, other two rose-coloured prominences, one on 
the right and the other on the left, started out.” ‘These red prominences began 
as red specks, which almost immediately became summits, by the extension below 
into bases.{’” Mr LasseLu says, the prominences “ were evidently belonging to 
the sun; for, especially on the western side, I observed that the moon passed over 
them, leaving them behind, and revealing successive portions as she advanced. I 
observed only the summit of one on the western side, although my friends in the 
adjoining room had seen two. The moon had covered one, and probably three 
fourths of the other, while I was engaged in registering the time, and making my 
observations with the naked eye.”§ Mr Wititams saw “ two conical redpromi- 
nences on the following or east limb;” and, “as the moon advanced, she speedily 
covered these.” He again states, that “as the moon progressed and left it be- 
hind.” the hook-shaped prominence on the west side “ increased in size and 
brilliancy.”|| Mr SrannistrREET says, the same prominence “ appeared to alter 

* Ast. Soc. Notice, p. 46. t Ib., p. 49. t Ib., p. 50. § Ib., p. 53. | Ib., p. 54. 
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