7 
252 i ‘THE SOLAR ECLIPSE. 
by eye, and differing considerably from the data of other observers, after which 
follow very complete meteorologic, magnetic, and photometric observations. It 
is worthy of notice that an inner ring was not seen in the corona; on the other 
hand the whole circumference of the moon appeared surrounded by a red bor- 
der. It is stated, moreover, that the protuberance f was seen proceeding out 
from the moon’s limb before the solar crescent; and, finally, we must also 
mention the noted peculiarity that immediately before the vanishing and after 
the re-appearing of the sun, black, mountain-like elevations of the moon’s limb 
(somewhat similar to the phenomenon described by Baily) projected themselves 
upon the various solar crescent. ‘The greater part of the memoir is taken up 
with the collation of previously observed phenomena of total eclipses, and the 
criticism of the theories formed for their explanation, wherein the author ex- 
presses, as the final result, his very decided opinion that we can only assume 
inflexion, or interference of light, at the moon’s limb. 
The first memoir of Mr. Airy (49) is to be considered as only a preliminary 
account, as all the observations made by those who participated in the British 
expedition are to be collected together in a large volume and published at the 
expense of the British government. In the second memoir (88) the corrections 
of the solar tables of Le Verrier, and lunar tables of Hansen, are deduced from 
the observations made during the eclipse with the great equatorial of the Green- 
wich Observatory, and the results are as follows : 
Correction. 
Dif. AR =€ —AR © = —I/1 
Diff. Decl. € — Decl. © = —4. 0 
Sun’s diameter = +0. 13 
Moon’s diameter == —2, 4 
The memoir of Mr. Bremiker (30) contains, in addition to tné determination 
of time and the principal instants of eclipse, also the positien-angles of the pro- 
tuberances, and some data respecting their form. He did not observe any 
changes of form, and, according to the whole course of the phenomenon, he ex- 
plains the protuberances as solar clouds. It is worthy of notice that the floating 
cloud ¢ was not perceived either by him or myself, (the distance between us 
was only a few steps,) while Mr. Plantamour, whose station was some hundred 
feet further west, saw it distinctly. We meet a similar paradox also at Desierto 
de la Palmas (65) and Oropesa, (66.) Mr. Bremiker appends to his memoir a 
brief investigation respecting the brilliancy of Venus, which, at the time of to- 
tality, he estimated to have one and one-half time the brightness of Jupiter, while, 
according to Lambert’s formula, it should have given much less light. He 
shows that the observation may be satisfied by assuming that the atmosphere 
of Venus also reflects light, so that the formula of brillianey must consist of two 
terms, whose coefficients he determines. 
Mr. Plantamour (47) brings up, in his brief but very precisely written exhi- 
bition of the course of the eclipse, various facts which contradict the assumption 
of solar clouds, and gives three drawings, representing the beginning, middle, 
and end of totality, in which are found the protuberances a, 6, c, 7, and a moun- 
tain-cha‘n which covers the whole distance between e and ft 
In the second paper (48) he endeavors to defend his drawings, and the state- 
ment that the protuberance e vanished without coming into contact with the 
moon’s limb, against the objections of Mr. Secchi, (62 ) 
Mr. Gautier, (67,) without having perceived anything peculiar or different 
from other observers, pronounces with great decidedness against the hypothesis 
advocated by Mr. Plantamour, and appears to assume that the sun is surroynded 
by a cohering red cloud-stratum with steep elevations and depressions. In the 
drawings given by him we notice the protuberances a, b,c, e, f, and a long 
mountain-chain between e and f. 
