1898-99.] | MAGNETIC INFLUENCE OF SUN ON THE EARTH AND ON COMETS. 345 
THE MAGNETIC INFLUENCE OF THE SUN ON THE 
EARTH AND ON COMETS. 
By ARTHUR HARVEY, ESQ. 
(Read February 18th, 1899.) 
The connection between Solar eruptions and Terrestrial magnetism is 
a very fascinating study, of which the results are as yet incomplete, but 
they show that the sun is in magnetic as in other respects the ruler of 
the Earth, and I think I am able to prove that this power extends to 
comets also. 
Mr. Elvins’ paper on the Sun-spot of September last renders prelimin- 
ary remarks needless, so I will merely supplement it by calling attention 
to a yellowish grey globe, which, in a very imperfect way, represents. 
the sun. 
I have painted upon it spots, drawn from my own observations, and 
in due proportion to the size of the sphere. These particular spots were 
not all upon the sun at the same time, but the sun may frequently be 
seen as much bespotted as this model. Their position, with reference 
to the sun’s equator, is that in which they were observed, and in which. 
these phenomena usually occur. 
For the faculz, shown in white, I have the authority of the Italian 
records published by Tacchini. They conform thereto in size and in 
latitude. There are as many meridians on the model as it takes the sun 
days to rotate, and I have placed the facule upon them, one for each 
day’s observations. It is, to my regret, impossible to give the slightest 
idea of the beauty of these shining ridges of white brilliance. Nothing 
on earth compares with them, except the silver-tipped edges of cumu- 
lus clouds when illuminated by the sun. These facule are those of 
February, 1898. 
The red patches are meant to represent the prominences, as recorded 
at Rome and at Catania (Memorie della Societa degli Spettroscopisti 
Italianz). They are only seen upon the edges or “limbs” of the sun, 
therefore, to obtain an idea of the number in play at once, I took all 
