208 THE SUN-SPOTS OF THE PAST FEW YEARS. 



was very large and irregular. On November 20th, 

 when next photographed, it was still remarkable. 

 The umbra had subdivided into four prominent sections. 

 While this group was crossing the visible disc, there oc- 

 curred an unusual magnetic storm accompanied with ex- 

 tensive auroral displays. During this time I was ob- 

 serving the transit of the large comet of 1882, which 

 crossed the meridian quite low in the south, and during 

 its passage I noticed flashings of the aurora around and 

 below the comet. 



Another striking single group, attended by a brilliant 

 auroral display, was observed in April, 1882. This group 

 was not so remarkable as the preceding, however, either 

 in size or form of umbral positions. The most re- 

 markable single nucleus appeared in October, 1882. 

 This nucleus approached the round and stable form, 

 and made a return with but slight change in shape. 

 On October 2d, it presented a pear-shaped outline. It 

 was also followed by a group of small spots near 

 enough to be called in its train. On October 30th, 

 when it had made a complete revolution, its form was 

 still pear-sharjed and somewhat larger. The train of 

 October 2d had disappeared. The intermediate pho- 

 tographs of October 25th and 28th show the foreshorten- 

 ing of the nucleus as seen on the other limb of the sun. 1 



It will be noticed that the groups and spots I have 

 mentioned (and they comprise the most striking of the 

 past three years) appeared in 1882 and early in 1883. 

 This has interested me, from the fact that, as deduced 

 from my counting of spot number, the maximum epoch 

 did not occur till later. 



In 1883 I have noted beside the belt of Jury some 

 three or four groups of especial interest ; and in 1884 

 four or five drawings were made. On May 14th there 



1 The several photographs referred to, showing the character anil changes of the Novem- 

 ber, April and October groups, were exhibited. 



192 



