408 Messrs. Galloway and O'Farrell on some 
spots, which indicates that the emission in the upper regions 
balances the absorption. Moreover this line has (Proc. R. S. 
xxxi. p. 349) been observed to be undisplaced in spots when the 
iron lines near it are displaced, showing that the substance 
producing it is at a different level from that producing the dis- 
placed lines. This is consistent with its existing in the upper 
regions to which only low-tension vapour of iron can reach. 
But as the line is certainly not a line of low-tension vapour of 
iron on earth, we are not justified in assuming it to be such in 
the sun; and we are driven to suppose it due to some unknown 
substance X other than iron which at low tension has a line 
coincident, or nearly so, with a line of high-tension vapour of 
iron. Mr. Lockyer thinks that the substance X is a con- 
stituent of terrestrial iron ; but as the behaviour of the line 
in the sun does not correspond to the behaviour of the iron 
line on earth, the connexion between the two is reduced to the 
probable equality of wave-length. We suppose the tension 
of vapours in the upper part of the sun's atmosphere to be 
low as a general rule; but it may at times be locally higher, 
for solid matters falling into the sun and vaporized in its atmo- 
sphere may produce vapour of considerable tension until it 
has had time to diffuse. The descent of dust from the region 
of the corona may thus produce lines at elevations where we 
should not otherwise expect to find them. 
LIX. On some Improved Laboratory Appliances for con- 
ducting many Chemical Operations at the same time, and 
hastening the completion of severed of them. By Robert 
Galloway, M.R.I. A., F.C.S., and Francis J. O'Farrell, 
M.R.I.A., F.C.S.* 
[Plate VLL] 
IT is very generally conceded that it requires a greater 
expenditure of time and labour to arrive at results in 
Chemistry than it requires to attain like ends in any other of 
the inductive sciences. Any improvement therefore in ex- 
pediting and rendering less laborious analytical and other 
chemical operations, which are only a means to an end, assists 
materially in aiding the progress of the science. The improve- 
ment the late Baron Liebig effected in quantitative organic 
analysis is a remarkable instance of this ; for if the improve- 
ment had been made before Chevreul commenced his exami- 
nation into the constitution of fats, he would have been able 
to have shortened the time he gave (fourteen years) to this 
investigation by one half, viz. seven years. Beautiful as an 
* Communicated by the Authors. 
