LL. Trouvelot—Transit of Mercury. 125 
was called to this particular spot by a something I cannot well 
define, but which made me aware of the approach of the planet. 
But the impression was so rapidly followed by the contact that 
I have no definite idea of it, and am consequently unable to 
describe it, 
our atmosphere were quite dense and the telescopic image 
faintly illuminated; in fact, the conditions were not at all 
favorable for such delicate observations. 
Id perhaps indicate that such a phenomenon took place; 
but if such was the case, the black drop could not have been 
as dark as the disc itself, otherwise it 1s likely that it would 
have been noticed, as I was in expectation of seeing such a 
phenomenon 
A few minutes after the internal contact, the disc of Mercury 
appeared pyriform and slightly elongated towards the sun's 
limb. This decided appearance of the planet continued visi- 
ble for fifteen or twenty minutes; the major axis of the ellipsis 
being directed from northwest to southeast, it being a little in- 
clined towards the east to the south of the path of Mereury on 
the Sun. This appearance was probably illusory, as later when 
= eg a was clear, the black dise appeared perfectly 
