1 50 Astro7iomical Iiiformation. — Solar Eclipse ^1 823. 



of some of the more intelligent natives, most particularly of the 

 Modeliar of the Hapittegam Corle, who, in the returns from 

 his district, has given us a very complete list of the various 

 animals included in its Natural History. 



" Through the kindness of Messrs. Armstrong and Knox, 

 we have been enabled to commence the formation of a Museum, 

 with a collection of the Birds of the interior of this island. 

 We have received specimens from many quarters. Messrs. 

 Gisborne, Backhouse, and several other gentlemen, have made 

 contributions of this kind ; and we have every reason to hope 

 that their example will be followed by all who possess opportu- 

 nities of thus furthering the purposes of science and improve- 

 ment. 



" Having thus reviewed our progress and sketched our pre- 

 sent situation, allow me to express an opinion that we have not 

 been deficient in our duty ; and that with a very httle exertion 

 on the part of gentlemen in the several out-stations of this 

 island, we may be enabled to render essential service to the 

 general interests of science." — Ceylon Goveniment Gazette, 

 Jan. 25, 1823. 



XXXn. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION. 



/^UR next number will contain a list of all the occultations of 

 ^^ the fixed stars by the moon, that will be visible in the en- 

 suing year (1824), calculated by M. Inghirami of Florence, for 

 the meridian and parallel of Greeniaich ; a work which will be 

 very interesting and useful both to the astronomer and navi- 

 gator. — — — — 



ON THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF JULY 8. 



Epping, August 14, 1823. 



As no observations of the small Solar Eclipse, which hap- 

 pened on the 8th of July, have as yet appeared in your Jour- 

 nal, in the absence of any thing better on the subject, you may 

 be inclined, perhaps, to devote a corner in your next number 

 for the following remarks. 



About four o'clock on the morning of the eclipse, there 

 was much cirrostratus to tlie eastward, which in a great 

 measure obstructed the sun's rays. This modification afterwards 

 increasing, totally obscured the sun, and prevented my seeing 

 the begmning of the eclipse; but at 5^ 29" mean time the sun 

 had so far advanced above the more dense parts of this range 

 of clouds as to show a pretty distinct and well defined disc. 

 The eclipse now was near the time of its greatest obscuration 



to 



