136 



position, differ by less than a degree in the place they assign to the 

 most conspicuous prominence seen at the late eclipse, and they also 

 assign to it almost exactly the same form. This, and other coinci- 

 dences between observations made at distant stations, are strongly 

 in favour of the idea that the prominences are material objects. 



5. The observed differences in the numbers and positions of the 

 red prominences, as seen from stations differently situated in the 

 moon's shadow, are, upon tho whole, accordant with the effects 

 which parallax would produce, if the prominences actually existed 

 in the sun. 



6. The hypothesis that the prominences exist in the sun seems 

 to afford the only explanation of the fact, that the moon gradually 

 occulted them on the side towards which it moved, and exposed 

 them on the other, while at the same time the outlines of those 

 portions of the pi'ominences which continued visible, as well as their 

 relative positions, remained unaltered. 



7- On these grounds it is inferred that the red prominences are 

 material objects existing on the sun. 



The following Gentleman was duly elected an Ordinary 



Fellow : — 



.James William Grant, Esq. of Elchies. 



The following Donations to the Librai'y were announced: — 



The Assurance iSIagazine. No. 5. 8vo. — From the Institute of 



Actuaries. 

 Nouveaux Memoires de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de 



Moscou. Tome IX. 4to. 

 Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. 1851. 



No. 2. 8vo. — From the Society. 



Monday, 19//i April 1852. 

 Dr CHRISTISON, Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 The following Communications were read: — 



1. On the Red Prominences seen during Total Eclipses of 

 the Sun. Part II. By William Swan, F.R.S.E. 



In the first part of this paper, the author endeavoured to shew, 



