84 THE SUN. 



evidently the immediate sources of the solar light and heat, 

 by whatever mechanism or whatever processes they may 

 be enabled to develop and, as it were, elaborate these 

 elements from the bosom of the non-luminous fluid in 

 which they appear to float. Looked at in this point of 

 view, we cannot refuse to regard them as organisms of 

 some peculiar and amazing kind ; and though it would 

 be too daring to speak of such organization as partaking 

 of the nature of life, yet we do know that vital action is 

 competent to develop both heat, light, and electricity. 

 These wonderful objects have been seen by others 

 as well as by Mr Nasmyth, so that there is no room to 

 doubt of their reality. To be seen at all, however, even 

 with the highest magnifying powers our telescopes will 

 bear when applied to the sun, they can hardly be less 

 than a thousand miles in length, and two or three 

 hundred in breadth. 



(41.) Next as to the actual size of the spots them- 

 selves : the distance of the sun is so vast, that a single 

 second of angular measure on its surface as seen from 

 the earth corresponds to 460 miles; and since, to pre- 

 sent a distinguishable form, so as to allow of a certainty, 

 for instance, that it is round or square, in the best tele- 

 scopes an object must present a surface of at least a 

 second in diameter, it follows that to be seen at all so as 

 to make out its shape, a spot must cover an area of not 

 less than two hundred thousand square miles. Now, 

 spots of not very irregular, and what may be called a com- 

 pact form, of two minutes in extent, covering, that is to 

 say, an area of between seven and eight hundred millions 



