12 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



present a solid appearance to the eye. The so-called " blink " 

 method is a modification of this, and by this method a 12th 

 magnitude star with the large motion of 5'lin. per ann. has 

 been discovered. It is suggested that the sequence of 

 evolution of different stars can be deduced from the differences 

 in the spectra presented by them, which are also connected 

 with their temperatures and colours. About one -eighteenth 

 of the stars above 9'0 magnitude are found to be double. A 

 new complication has been introduced into the study of the 

 spectrum by the discovery that the wave lengths of the same 

 substance produced under different circumstances are subject 

 to slight variations, the cause being as yet unknown. The 

 variable star Mira Ceti has been displaying unusual varia- 

 bility, as its maximum brightness in 1915 did not nearly 

 reach the usual amount, though slight variations in the 

 maxima have previously been detected. Among many other 

 prizes offered by the Paris Academy of Sciences is one of 

 100,000 francs to anyone finding a means of communication 

 with any other planet except Mars. So many wonderful 

 discoveries have been made in recent years, that it is not 

 impossible that this prize may be claimed, though we are at 

 present quite in the dark. It is said that a green flash may 

 sometimes be seen at sunset, but I have never been successful 

 in seeing it, though I have sometimes looked out for it when 

 a clear sunset took place, which is not of very frequent 

 occurrence in these regions. I should be interested to know 

 if any of our members have been more fortunate. From 

 observations during the eclipse of August 21st, 1914, the 

 equatorial velocity of rotation of the sun's corona was found 

 to be about 3 '9 kilometres per second, or rather higher than 

 previously supposed. The war has prevented the observa- 

 tion of the solar eclipse of Feb. 3, 1916, which was total over 

 parts of Columbia and Venezuela, by any but American 

 observers. It had been hoped to investigate the corona 

 further. Several meteors have been seen worthy of record. 

 One on July 5 at 8.30 p.m., seen in Dorset and several other 

 counties. Several about August 12th. A very fine one on 



