344 



NA TURE 



[February io, 1898 



We have no news of the other parties, but Mr. Eliot, 

 C.S.I., F.R.S., is expected to-morrow to take charge of the 

 meteorological observations, and he doubtless will bring 

 observers with him. 



I enclose some photographs of the various instruments 

 with their shelters. During the eclipse everything sun- 

 ward will comedown, and arrangements have been made 

 so that everybody will have 40 seconds for a square 

 look at the eclipse. The eclipse clock and timekeepers 

 (we have a relay, one relieving the other at " 65 seconds 

 more ") are working splendidly. 



The new dropping-shutters, 116 X 6^, promise excel- 

 lently ; ten photographs of the spectrum can be taken 

 in 10 seconds. A boat will be moored at the spot 

 which we calculate the shadow will reach 5 seconds 



"^ TRIP TO CANADA." 



A MONG the more interesting and instructive results 

 -^^ of the recent visit of the British Association to 

 Canada, is the issue of a pamphlet entitled " A Trip to 

 Canada" by a clergyman, who was one of the party. 



The motives with which the journey was undertaken 

 are given with a naivete which commands respect. " The 

 Jubilee of 1897," we are told, " naturally suggests the 

 idea of a little foreign travel on one's own account. It is 

 one thing to read about the Colonies ; it is another to see 

 them with one's' own eyes. Where shall we go? There 

 is a large choice. In these days there is a variety of 

 Cook-like associations, which bid for one's patronage. 

 This summer I was glad to take v;hat came to hand. 



Fig. 3. — 9 inch Prismatic Camera, showing arrangement and kind of shelter used. 



before totality, when the exposures begin ; but we are 

 not entirely dependent upon this, for the cusp will be 

 watched, and again it has been calculated that this will 

 extend through an arc of 45' at the same time (5 seconds) 

 before totality. The arc will be watched to extinction 

 in a 3|-inch telescope, and this will enable the general 

 signal "go" to be given. 



Prof. Pedler has been here some da) s, and has got 

 his 6-inch equatorial with grating spectroscope drill 

 into perfect order. He begins 7 minutes before totality 

 to repeat my Egyptian observations and studies certain 

 special lines in the spectrum of the corona during 

 totality. He has a comparison arc spectrum of iron, 

 carbon, &c., photographed in the instrument before we 

 came out. 



Norman Lockyer. 



NO. 14.76, VOL. 57] 



The British Association held its meeting last August in 

 Toronto." 



This is, indeed, a delightful picture. When the century 

 was in the lusty hey-day of its youth and middle age, pre- 

 lates and professors "gave and received hard knocks." 

 Now, as the years roll on, science waits, hat in hand, on 

 the country rector. His breakfast table is piled with the 

 circulars of a "variety of Cook-like associations." As he 

 cracks his &gg he thinks of accompanying the geologists 

 to Moscow and the Caucasus. A slice of cold ham 

 recalls the Arctic Circle, the midnight sun and Thos. 

 Cook. Then his vagrant fancy swerves to Grindelwald 

 and Dr. Perowne. But with the first spoonful of mar- 

 malade he feels that the British Association and Toronto 

 have secured the prize. He decides to patronise 

 universal science and the British Empire. 



