14 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



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 eclipse of the sun's light, and of the joy which springs 



unbidden to the heart at the return of his beams. A 

 little girl was watching her flock when the sun began 

 to be darkened. As it gradually lost its light she 

 became more and more distressed, and when at length 

 it disappeared altogether her terror was so great that 

 she began to weep and to cry out for help. ' Her 

 tears were still flowing when the sun sent forth his 

 first ray. Reassured by his light, the child signed 

 herself with the cross, exclaiming, in the patois of the 

 province, " 0, beou Souleou ! " (oh, beau soleil !) ' 



Remarkable effects were produced on birds and 

 animals by the sudden darkness. Bats and owls came 

 out from their retreats ; domestic fowls went to roost ; 

 and swallows were seized with so great a terror that in 

 some places they were caught in the streets. A herd 

 of cattle grazing in the fields near Montpellier ' formed 

 themselves into a circle, their heads directed outwards, 

 as if to resist an attack.' Horses and oxen employed 

 in the fields ceased from their labours when the sun 

 was totally eclipsed, and lay down, neither whip nor 

 spur availing to induce them to resume their work 

 until the sun's light returned. On the other hand, 

 M. Arago states that ' the horses employed in the 

 diligences continued to pursue their courses without 

 seeming to be in the slightest degree affected by the 

 phenomenon.' During this eclipse, also, it was noticed 

 that several plants closed their leaves. 



The close accordance between the calculations of 

 mathematicians and the observed circumstances of the 



