74 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



YET A YEAR LATER. 



THE eclipse of December 1871 occupies a somewhat 

 exceptional position. It is the last of a series of im- 

 portant total eclipses of the sun following each other 

 at comparatively short intervals, and each (thus far) 

 distinguished by some noteworthy accession to our 

 knowledge. Between the eclipse of June 1860 and 

 that of August 1868 very little was added to our in- 

 formation respecting those solar phenomena which are 

 visible during total eclipses. Of course the sun was 

 totally eclipsed more than once during that interval, 

 but either the circumstances of such eclipses were 

 unfavourable, or else the regions where they could be 

 viewed were so situated as to preclude the possibility 

 of forming well-organised observing parties. The 

 great Indian eclipse of August 1868 terminated this 

 long period of inaction. Then came the important 

 American eclipse of August 1869 ; and next, the so- 

 called Mediterranean eclipse of December 1870. 

 During all these eclipses very striking discoveries 

 were made. It remains to be seen whether the eclipse 

 of the present month will supply the means of so 

 supplementing those discoveries as to satisfy the 

 craving minds of astronomers during the next twenty- 

 eight months. It is in any case certain that during 

 the interval just named no eclipses will occur which 

 will be worth the trouble of observing in the systematic 



