BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 



THE SUN ; RULER, LIGHT, FIRE, AND LIFE 

 OF THE PLANETARY SYSTEM. 



With 10 Plates (7 coloured) and 107 Figures engraved on Wood Crown 8vo. price 14*. 



OIF 1 



' Doubtless the time had arrived when the 

 numerous observations and hypotheses of 

 astronomers and the experiments of physic- 

 ists should be arranged and digested. For j 

 such work (which consists partly of the due 

 appreciation of existing theories and partly ; 

 of the devisal of new), and for the popular I 

 interpretation of the wonders of astrono- 

 mical science, no writer seems better adapted 

 than the Author of the book before us. He 

 possesses remarkable powers of clear reasoning, 



extensive knowledge* and a facile pen With 



perfect propriety Mr. PROCTOR lavs great stress 

 on a thorough understanding or spectroscopic j 

 analysis, and says, truly enough, that the whole 

 history of many recent scientific researches is a 

 sealed book to those who do not clearly understand 

 the nature of the instrument by which the re- 

 searches have been effected. Some fifty pages and 

 twenty illustrative figures are devoted to a history 

 of spectrum researches, especially as applied to the 



SCX's rays The APPENDICES on the Transits 



of VENUS in 1874 and 1882, and on Eclipses, will be 

 of particular value to those who wish to pursue 

 these important subjects of astronomical study. It 

 will be evident that the subject-matter of Mr. I 

 PROCTOR'S volume, and the mode in which he has . 

 treated it, are calculated to attract and instruct 

 the general reader. Other features of the book I 

 conduce to the same end. Such features are the : 

 clearness of the type, the appropriateness, beauty, 

 and in some instances the Weird splendour of the j 

 illustrations, as well as the ease of diction and the 

 lucidity of argument and explanation Which cha- 

 racterise the book. Wherever popular explanation 

 of scientific reasoning is possible, the Author does 

 not shrink from the task of giving it. and he accom- 

 plishes this task without fatiguing the attention 

 of the reader.' SPECTATOR. 



' Those who are desirous of obtaining some 

 insight into the present condition of our 

 knowledge as regards the SUN will do well 

 to provide themselves with this book. It is well 

 illustrated with woodcuts and coloured illustra- 

 tions, and is clearly and agreeably written.' 



GARDENER'S CHRONICLE. 



j The third chapter of the latest of Mr. 

 / "OCTOR'S masterly astronomical mono- 

 / liphs gives, without any exception what- 

 er. the very best description of the theory and 

 .ractical use of the spectroscope as applied to the 

 analysis of sunlight that we have ever seen in 

 print. The illustrations, which are especially 

 numerous, are of a very high class indeed, and 

 notably does this encomium apply to the chromo- 

 lithographs with which the book is adorned. In 

 the case of those to whom this notice may serve as 

 an introduction to an admirable book, we would 

 condense the result of our criticism into two words 

 Read it.' 

 EXGLISH MECHANIC and MIRROR OP SCIENCE. 



' Mr. PROCTOR has brought together a full 

 account of the various discoveries which have 

 recently been made, including the fresh re- 

 sults obtained by the spectroscope and photo- 

 graphy. Tne book is not only interesting to 

 the astronomer, who will find many original 



IP:R,:ESS. 



ideas and suggestions made by the Author, 

 but it is of singular interest to the general 

 reader. Those who have not the time or 

 opportunity for studying the science itself will 

 get from this book clear and faithful records of 

 the results obtained by recent scientific researches, 

 and gain, With little mental labour, an accurate 

 idea of what is at present known, so far as the 

 St?N is concerned, of the most fascinating of the 

 sciences.' LAND and WATER. 



' We can but be struck here with the won- 

 derful richness of expression which Mr. 

 PROCTOR possesses, and which he exercises so 

 admirably and judiciously. Astronomy ,which 

 has been ever admitted to be the grandest 

 and sublimest of the sciences, requires such 

 language to give full force to her marvellous 

 results and deductions. The book commends 

 itself both to the man of science and to the general 

 reader. The complete astronomer must revel in 

 this book not less than the man who when he 

 opened it did not know the meaning of parallax 

 and proper motion, and was all-ignorant of solar 

 willow-leaves and spiral prominences. The most 

 recent results have been introduced, yet the book 

 is popular in style. Popular scientific books are 

 seldom the work of the real savant, yet Mr, 

 PROCTOR is an accomplished astronomer and 

 sound mathematician, and scarcely a number of 

 the Journal of the Astronomical Society appears 

 without a paper from his pen. We have long 

 wanted in this country books of the class of GUIL- 

 LEMiN'S works; popularly written, well printed, 

 profusely illustrated, and accurate ; instructive 

 without being dull ; stimulative, and of a nature 

 to lead the reader deeper and deeper into the 

 depths of science. Mr. PROCTOR has supplied us 

 with such a book as regards solar astronomy, and 

 we cannot be too grateful to him.' 



QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SCIESCE. 



'We can, of course, notice but a very 

 feeble portion of so deeply interesting a 



volume It is elaborately illustrated, the 



coloured lithographs of spectroscopic obser- 

 vations being especially good, and being valuable to 

 the general student because of their absence from 

 11 works with Which he cones in contact. In 

 point of style the work is everything which could 

 be desired. In conclusion we must say a word 

 of praise for the publishers and printers the book 

 is admirably got up, both as to paper, print, and 

 illustration.' POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 



' A complete work on the SUN would be, 

 almost of necessity, a complete history of 



astronomy That which can be done 



without extending the volume to impractica- 

 ble dimensions has been done, and we need 

 scarcely say done well, by Mr. PROCTOR in his 

 last welcome addition to astronomical literature. 

 Numerous explanatory woodcuts and several ex- 

 cellent coloured lithographs adorn the volume ; 

 and we feel sure that this latest contribution by Mr. 

 PROCTOR to the astronomer's library will be re- 

 ceived with satisfaction, not only by 1 1 1 ose especially 

 in'erested in solar research, but by the scientific 

 public generally.' ASTROXOMICAL REGISTER. 



London : LONGMANS and CO. 



