THE ECLIPSE OF 1870. 73 



These meteor systems have been shown to be associated 

 with comets, though, as yet, the exact nature of the 

 association is little understood. From what we have 

 learned respecting them, we should expect the sun 

 during eclipse to be surrounded as with a crown or 

 glory of light, due to the illumination of the mixed 

 cometic and meteoric matter. We should also, for like 

 reason, expect to find a faint glow along that very 

 region of the heavens where the zodiacal light is seen. 

 Whgn we add to these considerations the circumstance 

 that all other theories of the corona and zodiacal light 

 appear to be disposed of by the evidence at present in 

 our hands, it would certainly seem that we have fair 

 reason for regarding the interpretation here set forth 

 as at least, in the main, the true one. Many details 

 may yet remain to be considered ; many peculiarities, 

 both of the corona and of meteoric systems, may remain 

 to be ascertained : and, fortunately, the means are not 

 wanting for fruitful research into both subjects. But 

 this general view seems demonstrated, that the facts 

 recently ascertained by astronomers respecting meteoric 

 systems on the one hand, and the corona on the other, 

 are closely related together. It is highly probable, 

 also, that the association between the two orders of 

 facts will become more and more clearly apparent with 

 the further progress of observation and of that careful 

 analysis of observation which alone educes its true 

 value. 



Cornhill Magazine, January 1871. 



