86 ON THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, JULY, 1851. [15 



to begin about 2 h 45 m . As the shadow increased the change in the appearance 

 of the country was most curious. The light became pale ; our shadows 

 were sharply cut, as by moonlight, but the light was more yellow. A deep 

 gray twilight seemed to come on. Perhaps two minutes before the totality 

 a dark, thick shade appeared over the west and north-west mountains, 

 which drew nearer, till, when the eclipse became total, it entirely surrounded 

 us, though it was paler or less dense towards the east. But on the instant 

 that we were in complete shade, a bright orange streak of light appeared 

 on the horizon to the north-west, spreading west and south. The corona 

 was orange. Bright, pale, and very irregular yellow rays streamed round 

 like the glories round the heads of saints. Many stars were visible, but 

 Venus was the only planet pointed out to me. The totality lasted 2 m 50 s 

 to the best of our reckoning ; but before the Sun reappeared the clouds 

 thickened rapidly, and afterwards we only caught stray glimpses. For a 

 minute after the totality was passed the dark shade lingered over the 

 south and south-east. 



" The following remarks are numbered with reference to the Suggestions 

 drawn up by a Committee of the British Association. 



" 16. We noticed no variation of colour in the sky. 



"18. The corona appeared to be formed instantaneously all round; 

 equally broad ; not divided into rings. 



" 22. The corona cast no shadow. I read the word ' Observation ' at 

 three yards, the remainder of the title at two, the interior print at the 

 usual distance in my hand. I read the same at the same distances at 

 10 h 30 m the following evening, the book lacing west; and at six, four, and 

 two yards distance by sunlight. 



" 24. The outline of all the mountains was perfectly distinct." 



I cannot close this account without expressing my sense of the kind 

 hospitality which I met with during a subsequent tour of six weeks in 

 Norway. To Mr Crowe, Her Majesty's Consul-general at Christiania, whose 

 kindness is so well known to all English travellers in that country, I feel 

 particularly bound to return my warmest thanks. 



