328 
NATURE 
[/ed. 23, 1871 
we ES nee 
prominences ; some parts of the first light shade can be 
seen, but the outer rays are altogether invisible. When, 
however, the plate is viewed by reflected light, the whole 
of the detail is distinctly seen. The negative was the last 
one taken ; four others were exposed for the corona, but 
owing to the presence of cloud very little detail is visible. 
It will be noticed that there is more of the corona shown 
on the west side of the moon than on the east, north, or 
south. This feature is shown on all the plates, so that 
there can be no question that there was more coronal 
light on the west side of the moon than at the other 
points. In explanation of the great display of the outer 
rays (I use the term rays for want of a better—perhaps 
cuter light would be more correct, for there is no indica- 
tion of lines or rays on any of the plates), [ had supposed 
that the east side might have been partially covered with 
cloud ; but in conversation with Prof. Eastman I found 
that he was observing for the reappearance of the sun, 
and he is quite certain that there was no cloud at the time 
the photograph was taken—that is, at about thirteen 

seconds from the end of totality. Mr. Fryer also is 
equally certain that there was no cloud. The plate was 
exposed eight seconds. It will be noticed also that the 
prominences are more numerous on the side where the 
corona is brightest. 
Various opinions have been expressed as to the quality 
of the light of the corona. The effect we saw was that of 
moonlight, but not of the /z// moon, excepting the bril- 
liant light close to the moon’s limb, which is equal to the 
brightest moonlight, and I think its action on the sensitive 
plate confirms this opinion, 
A point of much interest to be noticed is, that the light 
of the corona had been considered to be much less active 
than it really is ; eight seconds were sufficient to produce 
on the plate an effect of light extending beyond the moon’s 
limb, at least one and a half millions of miles. 
I leave it to others to account for the cause of the great 
gaps or rifts in the corona ; also their identity in position 
with those shown in the photograph taken by the American 
photographers at Cadiz. The identity of one of the rifts 





















































THE LATE ECLII’SE, AS PHOTOGRAPHED AT SYRACUSE 
is absolutely fixed by the two prominences between which 
it appears in the photographs, and this one gives the rela- 
tive places of the others. 
When the two photographs are compared, there is an 
apparent difference in the places of the rifts with respect 
to their angular position onthe moon’s circumference. How 
this difference arises I am not prepared to say, as I have 
no information as to how the American picture was taken, 
and there is no mark on the transparency which has been 
lent to me by Prof. Young, to indicate the north point. 
In the engraving from my photograph the top is the 
north. 
It is perhaps necessary to say that it is quite impossible 
to represent in an engraving on wood the delicate detail 
of the corona. The cut fairly gives the main features, 
but it is Zavd when compared with the original ; the con- 
trast should not be so great ; the ground should not be 
perfectly black ; and the effect should not be produced 
by Zines. No woodcut has ever yet accurately represented 
the phenomena of the eclipsed sun. 
When the photograph No. 5 is combined in the stereo- 

scope with the one taken about one minute earlier, stereo” 
scopic relief is produced—the corona is distinctly seen 
beyond the moon. It may be thought that this is merely 
the effect of contrast, but I believe it is really due to the 
change in the position of the moon. No such relief is 
seen when two copies of the same photograph are com- 
bined stereoscopically. 
In order to see the woodcut with the best effect, it 
should be placed at a few feet distance from the observer, 
so as to lose all trace of the lines of the engraving ; the 
effect is then very accurately given of the corona as seen 
by the unaided eye. A. BROTHERS 

THE LATE EAST INDIA COMPANY’S 
MUSEUM—A ZOULOGIST’S GRIEVANCE 
403 late East India Company in their former palace in 
Leadenhall Street were in possession of a valuable 
Zoological Museum. It contained specimens in all 
departments of science, received from the Company’s 
Oriental dominions, These had been contributed by 
