F. H. Bigelow — Further Study of the Solar Corona. 357 



It is interesting to compare these coordinates of the polari- 

 zation of the sun with the similar coordinates of the magnet- 

 ism of the earth, as given by Erman and Petersen for 1829, 

 from Gauss' Theory. 



North Pole, Long. 266° ' 3'*8 



Lat. 73° 21'- 



South Pole, Lon. 150° 44'-9 



Lat. — 72° 40'-4 

 Difference of Longitude, 115° 18'*9 



This fact of general agreement of the difference of longitude 

 may be purely accidental, or it may point to some fundamental 

 law of polarized rotating spheres. 



This analysis of the solar corona suggests certain conclusions. 



1. The force seems to be repulsive, the law of its action 

 being expressed by a transcendental equation of the second 

 degree. This agent is sufficient for the transportation of finely 

 subdivided matter, and harmonizes with the lack of density of 

 the sun's atmosphere, as indicated by its failure to influence the 

 motion of comets passing within its limits. 



2. The individual streamers are grouped in a zone about ten 

 degrees wide, whose maximum density is at 34 degrees from 

 the coronal poles. The number of such rays is not great, but 

 their actual dimensions are enormous. The average linear 

 visible extension is about one solar radius, and regarding the 

 residual propulsion and curve of the trajectory their extremities 

 are located normally above the sun spot belts. At this place 

 the incandescence of the material particles apparently ceases, 

 and if condensation sets in, there would exist the conditions 

 required for the precipitation of cool masses, whose fall 

 upon the surface of the sun is generally supposed to produce 

 the spots. It is at this zone of maximum for the coronal rays 

 that the deficiency of the prominences has been observed, and 

 there may well be a physical connection between these two 

 classes of phenomena. The re-entering form of the curves is 

 also consistent with the existence of atmospheric currents 

 flowing from the polar regions towards the equator, and a 

 study of the angles of inclination of the prominences relatively 

 to normals may develope some evidence on this point. The 

 condensed bodies of light, seen on two axes at 40 degrees from 

 the poles, are doubtless due to the perspective effects of the 

 maximum zone as it passes around the sides of the sun ; and 

 the structureless equatorial wing is no doubt a floating mass 

 of matter, cooling in the process of preparation for precipi- 

 tation. This return of the ejected matter to the sun is consid- 

 ered necessary to account for the relation of the total flow of 



