RED PROMINENCES SEEN DURING TOTAL ECLIPSES OF THE SUN. 469 
cable, on the mere hypothesis that the sun possesses an atmosphere capable of 
absorbing light uniformly, but which are perfectly consistent with the supposi- 
tion that he is surrounded by a stratum of cloudy matter, strongly absorbing his 
light, but subject to frequent interruptions of continuity. These are, the distinctly 
radiated structure of the corona, and the appearance of bundles of rays, separated 
by comparatively dark intervals. The different observers of the late eclipse are 
not quite agreed as to the appearance of the corona; but, upon the whole, there 
| is a strong preponderating testimony to the effect that its illumination was far 
from uniform. Thus Mr Snow says,—The corona “ appeared not to be uniformly 
disposed, but in irregularly radiating bundles or masses.”* M. Lassenu states, 
that the corona “ was radiating, some of the rays appearing /onger than the rest, 
but the irregularity was not great ;”+ and Mr Wittams, that “it was divided by 
radial lines, and presented the appearance of luminous brushes shot out from be- 
hind the moon.” | Dr Bousrep saw the corona “ somewhat rugged, and more 
extended towards the left of its upper part.”§ In a drawing of the eclipse, com- 
municated to me by Lieutenant PrerrErsson, he represents the corona as consist- 
ing of detached brushes of light ; and he particularly points out the occurrence of 
a dark interval, 100° to the east of the sun’s vertex. Mr Avie saw “ brighter corus- 
cations shooting through it all round, extending beyond the general light of the co- 
rona, and having a kind of flickering appearance ;” || and, according to Mr Hinp, 
rays of light extended through and beyond the corona.§{_ Mr Arry represents the 
corona as consisting of bundles of rays, very strongly marked; and he describes its 
structure as radiated, and as terminating, though very indefinitely, in a manner 
resembling the ornament round a mariner’s compass.** Tome the corona seemed 
strongly radiated (see Plate XII), the bright rays being separated by intervals of 
comparative darkness; and there were brilliant beams of light at particular points, 
brighter than the rest of the corona, and visible beyond its general outline. The 
largest and brightest of those beams or masses of light was situated 61° 8’ to the 
east of the sun’s north point. Its form was conoidal, having its base towards the 
sun. The other beams were in the form of extremely acute cones, with their ver- 
tices towards the sun, and their sides apparently converging towards his centre. 
It appears from these observations that there is something existing at the sur- 
face of the sun capable of intercepting his light unequally, and of causing a want 
of regularity in the illumination of the corona. For if we suppose the light to be 
transmitted uniformly by the sun’s atmosphere, it would follow that rays pro- 
ceeding from different points of his surface would cross each other’s paths, and 
blend their effects; so that however irregular the luminosity of the surface, the 
illumination of the corona, at a little distance, would approach to uniformity. Its 



















* R. Ast. Soc. Notice, p, 47. + Ibid., p. 52. t Ibid,, p. 54. § Ibid., p. 57. 
|| Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal for October, p. 375. GR. Ast. Soc. Notice, p. 67. 
** Thid., p. 60. 
VOL. XX. PART III. 6K 
