J. N. Lockyer—Existence of Elements in the Sun. 429 
Art, XLV.—Preliminary Inquiry into the Existence of Elements 
_ tn the Sun not previously traced ;* by J. NoRMAN LOCKYER. 
strongest lines of the metal in question in the average solar 
presence or absence of the longest lines of the metal: this long- 
est line being that which remains longest in the spectrum when 
the pressure of the vapor is reduce 
Of the test in question I have said in the paper already men- 
tioned, “It is one, doubtless, which will shortly enable us to 
determine the presence of new materials in the solar atmos- 
phere, and it is seen at once that to the last published table of 
solar elements—that of Thalén—must be added zine, aluminium, 
and possibly strontium, as a result of the new metho 
In order to pursue the inquiry under the best conditions, 
are necessary. It is, however, not absolutely necessary for the 
purposes of a preliminary inquiry to wait for such a complete 
set of maps, for the lists of lines given by the various observers 
may be made to serve as a means of differentiating between the 
longest. and shortest lines, because I have also shown that the 
lines given at a low temperature, by a feeble Being com- 
position, or by a chemical combination of t 
observed, are sskcinaly those lines which appear longest when 
the complete spectrum of the pure dense vapor is s 
with regard to the various lists and maps published by 
various “observers, it is known (1) that very different tempera- 
tures were employed to produce the spectra, some investigators 
using the electric are with great battery ht others the induc- 
tion “spark with and without the jar; (2) tha some observers 
employed in certain cases the chlorides of dis feetals the spectra 
of which they Maley investigating,—others used specimens of the 
metals themselv 
t is obvious, hei, that these differences of method could 
not fail to produce differences of result ; and nocording’y: in re- 
ferring to various maps and tables of spectra, we find that s ee 
inclu large numbers of lines omitted by Sthen A refere 
to these tables in connection with the methods employed awe 
at once that the large lists are those of observers using great 
xtract from a-memoir presented to the Royal Society in November, shies 
which has just ae bees printed in the “Philosophical Transactions ;” here cited from 
Nature of Feb. 25, 1875. 
