114 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



sun, he concluded that there was a continuous envelope 

 of hydrogen (mixed with some other gases) surround- 

 ing the whole of the sun's globe. It was probably 

 through being misled by this supposition that he gave 

 to the sierra a new name entitling it the chromo- 

 sphere announcing at the same time that its upper 

 surface was smooth in outline. Respighi, the eminent 

 Italian spectroscopist also working, it would seem, 

 in ignorance or forgetfulness of the prior recognition 

 of the layer announced presently that the upper 

 surface of the so-called chromosphere l was altogether 

 irregular more irregular, in fact, than the surface of 

 a tempest-tossed sea. On re-examining the sierra, 

 Mr. Lockyer found this to be the case. But perhaps 

 the most striking evidence as to the real aspect of the 

 sierra was afforded during the eclipse of last December, 

 when Fr. Secchi, towards the close of totality, saw 

 around the western half of the moon's disc a complete 

 semicircle of sierra, and noted that this beautiful 

 coloured crescent was formed of multitudes of minute 



1 It affords strange evidence of the caution with which new names 

 should be suggested, that this name, embodying, as we see, an erroneous 

 theory, and also perpetuating the remembrance of a mistaken claim, is 

 scarcely yet beginning to fall into disuse. Perhaps its Greek origin and 

 its length may have something to do with this ; for although astronomy 

 at least descriptive astronomy has hitherto not been disfigured by 

 the hideous nomenclature which botanists and geologists seem to rejoice 

 in, yet there is always a large class of science students who delight in 

 sesquipedal names, as giving an air of profundity to their discourse. 

 It may even be dangerous to hint that the true form of the compound 

 for a colour-sphere is not chromo -sphere, but chromato-sphere, since the 

 extra syllable will multiply tenfold the favour with which the compound 

 is accepted. When will the tyro learn that the true lover of science 

 'Projicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba'? 



