Solar and I'latirtari/ Evolution. 



65 



formed originally from an invisible gas. The great nebula 

 in the sword of Orion (see Fignre 8, page 68) shows many 

 points of condensation. From it will be developed a little 

 universe Avithin a greater universe, forming in time not a 

 single sun or star, b\it a cluster of stars. 



We have seen in the nebulae evideneies of rotation and 

 contraction. Now let us consider the condition of a body 

 after it has passed out of the nebulous into the solid state. 

 (A pictvire of a portion of the sun's surface is thrown upon 

 the screen, showing a dark back-ground, mottled with 

 shining spots. See illustration, Figure 9, on page 64,, 



r 



Fig. 10. 



.Suction ol the Sun's Snilace. sliovvinj; a belt ol' suu-sjioti^, near the 

 eenter ol the disk. 



opposite.) The surface of the sun, of which we shall first 

 speak, is not uniformly clear and shining, but broken up into 

 bright parts interspersed with parts that are less luminous. 

 The shining portions are sometimes called "rice-grains," 

 from their ap})earance, and seem like clouds of luminous 

 matter. These are tlie parts of the sun which give light. 

 Sir John Ilerschel suggested that they might be "living or- 

 ganisms," but they are merely the hotter portions of the 

 solar surface. Among tliem sometimes appear great rifts or 

 spots (a picture of solar spots is thrown upon the screen) 

 which are never seen at the poles, but always witliin a cer- 



