May 2, 1912] NATURE 219 
McClean and Mr. W. N. McClean, and myself, 
for it is possible that these observations, com- 
bined with those made by other observers, may 
France. help to locate the exact path of the moon’s 
' pee recent eclipse of the sun was of interest | shadow as it swept across the country, and so 
from several points of view, but chiefly in | determine the differences between the observed 
the opportunity it afforded of determining the | and the numerous calculated tracks. 
We arrived at Paris in the 
f h pet i ~~ 4 1\ L722 la Fret XQ. “Cormeilles. en Ph early morning of the eclipse day 
O° Vernodilety WW ncnthes\ .fOR— 5] ye (r7th), and decided to take up 
SS rh} - ; Reeeees Our position on a portion of the 
j track which would possibly be 
less frequented by other  ob- 
servers. We had heard that the 
region about Saint Germain-en- 
Laye, a point easily reached by 
train from Paris, would be fully 
occupied, so we determined to 
intercept the track more to the 
south-westward. 
The accompanying chart (Fig. 
1) shows the region to the north- 
west of Paris, with Saint Ger- 
main-en-Laye near the centre. 
The several lines lying in the 
direction south-west to north- 
east are the positions of the 
tracks of the shadow in that 
region as given by the various 
authorities. Thus, commencing 
with the upper one and working 
downwards, they represent the 
»Fic. r.—The region to the north-west of Paris, showing the several computed lines for the central pesiions Sepia by (1) une 
Bete eclipkettoni(s) °Gerliner Jahrbuch,” (a) © Naniiexi Almeniac,” (4) Dr. (Cesare ncaa “Berliner Jahrbuch,” (2) “Nauti- 
Ephemeris,” (5) ‘‘ Connaissance des Temps,” (6) ‘‘Carte du Bureau des Longitudes.” cal Almanac,” (3) Dr. Cromme- 
lin, (4) ‘““American Ephemeris,” 
exact path of the moon’s shadowand theduration | (5) ““Connaissance des Temps,”. and (6) “Carte du 
of totality. It was well known that there existed | Bureau des Longitudes.” This chart is a portion 
a great deal of uncertainty as to both these | of a much larger chart published recently in 
items, the calculations depending 
on the different values employed. rt oo Ce me SNC Rr Ea 
It was generally considered 
fairly certain that the total phase 
would be observed from stations 
near the north of Portugal and 
Spain, and that totality would 
only last for a second or two at 
most if the correct position were 
selected. 
It was my intention to have 
proceeded on April 5 to Ovar, in 
Portugal, and place myself as 
near the centre of the track as 
possible, relying on the calcula- 
tions of Dr. Crommelin, but un- 
fortunately unforeseen circum- 
stances rendered it impossible for 
me to undertake the journey. 
I was enabled, however, at a 
later date (16th) to go to Fic. 2.—The main road (looking westward) from which we made our observations. 
Paris and observe the annular 
phase from a station some miles outside that | L’Astronomie, but here the track calculated by 
capital. Dr. Crommelin has been indicated. 
The present communication deals with the Being unaware of the position of Dr. Crom- 
observations made by my companions, Mr. Frank | melin’s line, we decided to place ourselves on that 
NO. 2218, VOL. 89] 
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF APRIL 17. 
The Annular Eclipse as Observed near Chavenay, 
Jp 
Porc 5 
* 
