J. R. Mayer on Celestial Dynamics. 241 
“That portion of the solar dise which is free from spots is by 
no means uniformly bright. Over it are scattered small Sak spots 
“Near large 4 2 or extensive groups of them, large spaces 
; e covered with peculiarly marked lines much 
Sephiar than the other parts of the surface; these lines are cur- 
ved, i 
theory explained in these pages 
Bethe shine Gas’ & aoe 
physical heliography is, from the nature of the subject, very 
mited; even sses 
e extraordinarily high temperature which exists on the sun 
precludes the possibility of its surface being solid; it 
doubtless consists of an uninterrupted ocean of fiery fluid 
ster. is gaseous envelope becomes more rarefied in those 
As most substances are able to assume the gaseous state of 
“8sregation at high temperatures, the height of the sun’s atmo- 
Sphere cannot be inconsiderable. There are, however, sound 
reasons for believing that the relative height of the solar atmo- 
ere is not very great. : 
not very great. . 
Jour. Sci.—Seconp Series, Vou, XXXVIII, No, 113.—Szpr., 1864. 
31 
