Mr. Airy on the Total Solar Eclipse of July 8, 1842. 397 
their form was nearly that of saw-teeth in the position proper for a 
circular saw turned round in the same direction in which the hands 
of a watch turn: their height was certainly not greater than one- 
fourth of the breadth of the ring, or probably a minute : the distance 
between the first and third was perhaps forty degrees or more on 
the moon’s limb; their colour was a full lake-red, and their bril- 
liancy greater than that of any other part of the ring. On my call- 
ing attention to these, my companion saw them with the naked eye. 
It will be remarked that the part of the limb in which the red flames 
appeared was immediately in contact with the dark cloud of which 
I have spoken; and we attributed them to some irregularity in the 
density of the cloud’s edge. 
While engaged in watching the reappearance of the sun, [I lost 
the opportunity of observing how the ring and the flames disap- 
peared. Every luminous appearance, however, and every trace of 
the remainder of the moon’s limb, vanished as soon as the smallest 
portion of the sun was uncovered. No beads or irregularity of any 
kind could be observed. The general illumination of the earth and 
sky was restored with very great rapidity. The clouds soon began 
to cover the sun, and in a short time it was invisible. In less than 
half an hour, a few drops of rain fell. 
My companion, who had better opportunities than 1 had of ob- 
serving the formation of the ring, &c., has given me the following 
account :— 
‘« A bright line seemed to form round the right side of the moon 
before the disappearance, but not quite round, so that the ring was 
not complete: but, at the moment of the total disappearance, the 
ends seemed suddenly to join and form the complete ring, brightest 
on the left side, and as if beams of light came out. It continued 
brightest below, and at one time disappeared on the upper side, but 
a heavy black cloud was touching it there. Shortly before the re- 
appearance, the brightness increased on the upper side; and imme- 
diately before the reappearance there were little beams of flame- 
colour starting out. There was no defined edge to the ring: it 
changed sensibly, being brightest first on the left side where the 
sun had gone in, then below, and then on the right side; the light 
coming out at each place successively like little beams from the 
moon’s edge. There was no remarkable change in the colour of the 
light till the little flame-coloured beams shot out for a few seconds 
before the reappearance, The general appearance of the country 
during the totality was very frightful; but every object, all the di- 
stant hills, &c. &c., were distinctly visible ; it was like looking at ob- 
jects through a very dark greenish glass. The sky in every part, 
except that in which the sun was, was covered with thick clouds. 
The sun also was covered by the clouds very soon after his reap- 
pearance.” 
The numerous persons who watched the eclipse from the Superga 
appeared to notice with great interest the progress of its phases to 
the totality; and when the sun was actually hidden there burst 
forth from them, first a low murmur and then loud sounds of ap- 
