152 SOLAR ECLIPSE OF MAY 28, 1900. 



all this long branching extent of white canvas ending in the uplifted 

 tube of the 38-foot telescope, was seen in the light of the moon, the 

 extensive field, with its preparations, exhibited a still more picturesque 

 scene than })v day. 



Less imposing, and. perhaps more imgainlj^, was the combination of 

 four great cameras under the main shed, designed to search for new 

 planets and to depict the outer corona. These might well be described 

 as like a cabin and an outbuilding, mounted on a polar axis, 3'et 

 despite their awkward proportions thev were made to follow very 

 accurately. 



The morning of the eclipse dawned cloudless and very fairly clear. 

 Deep blue sky, such as the writer had seen on Pikes Peak, of course 

 is not among the ordinary possibilities of an eclipse, but the milkiness 

 of the blue was less pronounced than is usual in the summer season, 

 and all felt that the seeing promised well. 



At fifteen minutes before totality a series of rapid strokes on the 

 bell called ever3'one to his post, and one minute before the expected 

 contact five strokes were given as a final warning. Coincidently with 

 the actual observation of the second contact by Mr. Putnam, the first 

 of two strokes upon the. bell sounded, and the work began. After 

 eighty -two seconds (the duration of totality from the Nautical Almanac 

 was ninety-two seconds) three strokes were given as a signal to stop 

 the long photographic exposures. Scarcel}^ more than five seconds 

 after this the sun's crescent reappeared. The duration of totality as 

 observed by jVIr. Putnam was approximately eighty-eight seconds. 



To visual observers the sky was notably not a dark one. No second 

 magnitude stars were observed with the naked eye, and most of the 

 on -lookers saw only Mercury conspicuously, though Venus was distin- 

 guished at a low altitude, and Capella also was seen. So high a degree 

 of sky illumination can not liut have operated unfavorablj" in the study 

 of the outer corona or in the search for intramercurial planets, and 

 this is to be remembered in connection with what follows. 



BEFORE TOTALITY. 



A deepened color in the sky, a fall of temperature, and a rising 

 breeze were distinctly noticeable. No change in direction of the wind 

 was noticed. Shadow bands were seen, but those who attempted to 

 measure their velocity found them too rapid and flickering for any 

 great exactness in this determination. There was tolerable unanimity 

 among independent observers as to their size and distance apart (about 

 5 inches), though some thought this less as totality approached. 



It was noticed that the birds grew silent just before and during 

 totality, but, true to their nature, the English sparrows were last to 

 be still and first to begin their discussion of the eclipse after the return 

 of light. 



