398 TRANSIT OF VENUS, 1874. EODRIOUEZ. HERMITAGE ISLAND. 



defined with the highest power (160) in the telescope. The dark glass used 

 was yellow. The first indication of approaching contact which I observed, 

 at 10 h . 3. 18 s- 2, was an elongation of the planet's limb in the direction of 

 that of the Sun. This did not appear to remain steady, but moved backwards 

 and forwards towards the Sun's limb without, however, entirely interrupting 

 the light (Fig. 1). 



Up to the time indicated by 10 h . 3 m . 51 s . the light was not entirely inter- 

 rupted, but at 10 h . 3 m . 56 s . light was no longer visible between the limbs of 

 the Sun and Venus, being interrupted by a band of about one-eighth of the 

 diameter, and the same degree of blackness as the planet (Fig. 2). The 

 width of the band increased to about one-fourth of the planet's diameter up 

 to the time of circular contact, which phenomenon was observed at 10 h . 4 m . 47 s . 

 (Fig. 3). 



Having noticed the appearance of that portion of the planet's disc outside 

 the Sun's limb at Ingress, I now directed my particular attention to it again ; 

 and at 10 h . 7 m . I first perceived it emerging from the Sun's limb. 



It appeared, as at Ingress, of a reddish brown colour. 



Shortly afterwards I noticed that its outer limb became faintly illuminated 

 with a yellow light, presenting something of the appearance of a very young 

 moon with her horns directed towards the Sun's limb (Fig. 4). 



The portion of the planet outside the Sun's limb retained the same 

 appearance in regard to colour and illumination of the outer limb up to 

 within a few moments of external contact, when the slow motion of the 

 telescope in zenith distance failed to act ; and before I could remedy this, and 

 bring the Sun into the field of the telescope once more, the planet had disap- 

 peared from off the Sun's disc, and, although I searched for her outside that 

 portion of the Sun's limb off which she had passed, I could discern nothing. 



After the observation of Egress the chronometers were intercompared. 



