A new fossil fish (Myriacanthus paradoxus] has been lately 

 discovered at Lyme Regis, of which the dorsal fin-spine alone 

 was previously known. 



ASTRONOMY. 



The great event of the year from an astronomical point of 

 view has undoubtedly been the total eclipse of the sun on 

 August 3oth. After ail the elaborate and expensive preparations, 

 involving journeys and the transport of delicate apparatus to 

 distant parts of the world, often difficult to reach, and 

 inhospitable when attained, disappointment was on this occasion 

 the only result, in many instances, of this great undertaking for 

 the purpose of a few minutes' observation. 



At the two stations in Labrador, in parts of Spain, and else- 

 where, clouds obscured the sun. At Guelma in Algeria, 

 Torreblanca in Spain, Sfax in Tunis, at Assouan, Tripoli, and 

 other stations, the observers were fortunate in obtaining a good 

 view of the eclipse. The corona was well developed, and 

 streamers (not all radial) up to a length of about twice the sun's 

 diameter (in one case, at Guelma, stated to be three degrees), 

 were seen. 



Colour screens were successfully used in photographing the 

 prominences, and new facts were elicited about the polarization 

 of the corona. One of the most interesting photographic 

 results was the record on the plate of three or four oval, ring- 

 formed, cloud-like caps about four to six minutes of arc above 

 the large prominence on the east limb, indicating the eruptive 

 nature. Similar appearances were seen in 1870, and described 

 as smoke rings which were being shot up by the eruptive force. 

 The darkness was not intense, the time by a watch bein always 

 visible. The shade-temperature fell ten degrees on the Spanish 

 coast. 



In Dorset the eclipse seems to have been well watched, and 

 some photographs were exhibited at one of our meetings. The 



