42 



stability in a certain sense, but there was an everlasting change 

 going on. For instance, some few years ago a star of the twelfth 

 magnitude suddenly and very rapidly rose to a star of the tliird 

 magnitude. If there were any planets there they must have had 

 a fine time of it. There was another remarkable physical phen- 

 omenon that came from across the Atlantic some months ago. 

 The question there was " Are we drying up ? " Our recent 

 experience here was somewhat to the contrary. A writer there 

 said their vapour was gradually passing away, and that some day 

 they would be high and dry, and they would have no sea or water 

 of any kind. He should like to have a whole evening devoted 

 to the spectrum analysis, as he was sure it was a subject to be 

 made very interesting and instructive. 



Mr. B. Phillips said Mr. Pankhurst had shown them in his 

 interesting paper that the spots on the sun were in all probability 

 cavities, in its chromosphere and photosphere. But he omitted to 

 state what seemed to him a most conclusive proof that they were 

 cavities, for it was said by unbelievers that when the cavity reached 

 the edge of the sun they ought to see a dent, but they never saw 

 anything of the sort. That Avas a difficulty never removed until 

 the great solar eclipse observed in the north of Spain, on which 

 occasion photographs were taken, and a dent was distinctly Aasible. 

 The great protruberances mentioned by Mr. Pankhurst Avere 

 visible not only during an eclipse, but at all times, and he should 

 like to ask him about that. Speaking Avith regard to the corona, 

 lie said it was his opinion that it was probably due to the action 

 of the sun's light upon our oaati atmosphere, and not entirely due 

 to the sun. 



January 21st. 



MICEOSCOPICAL MEETING. 



The PEESIDENT (Mr. G. D. SaAvyer) mentioned among 



other matters, that Mr. Curties, of Holborn, had forwarded 



to the Society's cabinet tAvo slides, Aaz., the Spiculfe of Gorgonia 



