254 Notices of Books. (April, 
other very closely,—such was the evidence urged against the 
long array of facts pointing the other way. 
As respects the second point, we may illustrate the nature of 
the evidence, by showing the two drawings, Figs. 19 and 20, 
by Dr. Gould on which chief stress was laid by the advocates 
of the atmospheric glare theory. It will scarcely be believed 
that the differences between these drawings (differences which 
are so readily explained by the changes of condition to which 
the air was subjected through which a solar corona must 
necessarily be seen, as well as by the changing power of the 
eye to appreciate the outer faint coronal light) were urged as 
demonstrative of the fact that the corona is a phenomenon of 
our own atmosphere! 
As respects the third point above referred to, it is necessary to 
point out that the argument relating to the photographs by Lord 
Lindsay and Mr. Brothers (pp. 372, 373 of the present work) is 
vitiated by the circumstance that in some unexplained way 
Lord Lindsay’s photograph was inverted. The perfect agreement 
between the prominences shown in all the photographs when 
Lord Lindsay’s picture is re-inverted abundantly proves this, and 
thus the supposed discrepancy between a photograph taken at 
the beginning and one taken at the end of totality has no real 
existence. 
The sections of the work relating to the fixed stars, nebule, 
and comets, are extremely interesting, and may be accepted as 
fairly presenting the present position of the subje¢t,—with one 
exception only, that undue prominence is given to Father Secchi’s 
study of star spectra. Of the section on meteors we find our- 
selves unable to speak altogether with approval. Dr. Schellen 
does not sufficiently distinguish between the points which have 
been demonstrated and those which remain matters of speculation. 
Nor is the history of the subject quite accurately rendered. 
However, such blemishes as these do not importantly detract 
from the value of Schellen’s excellent treatise. It could, indeed, 
scarcely be expected that so large a volume should be free from 
some defects; and, on the whole, the work before us is as sound 
and trustworthy as it is wide in range and exhaustive in treat- 
ment. It is a treatise without which no scientific library can 
be regarded as complete. The work of translation has been 
accomplished carefully, and all things considered, satisfactorily. 
Here and there occur passages which appear to us somewhat 
cumbersome, a fault chiefly due, we believe, to the anxiety of the 
translators to follow their author as closely as possible. But 
such passages are few and far between; and, apart from its 
scientific value, the book is very readable. The editorial notes 
greatly enhance its value. 
