‘ * 
TRANSIT OF MERCURY. 173 
of expected ingress. A little north of sun’s equator were two 
clusters of sun-spots, the northern one seemingly consisting of 10 
or 11 spots, the other of one large spot with two smaller com- 
panions. The large spot near the sun’s centre very clear, the 
nucleus being divided (by a forked line) into three pieces. The 
whole of the sun’s surface had a faint mottled appearance, Turn- 
ing my attention to the cluster near point of ingress I noticed the 
facule at times very distinctly. 
About three or four minutes before first external contact thin 
cirro-cumulus clouds covered the sky. 
Ingress, cee contact. 
At 8h. 22m. 3°60s. I firs ught sight of the planet, 
which quite decidedly notched ein sun’s limb before I was certain 
that it was the expected object. On reflection I think about y5 
of the planet's dise must have been on the sun’s at the time. The 
disc remained circular throughout, except that at wont secre at 
ingress it seemed to draw out slig ghtly as if unwi ea 
sonia limb, leaving in my mind a faint suspicion of “the “ black 
Ps 
Ingress, last contact. 
At 8h. 23m. 36°45s. I caught first indication of a white line 
Separating the sun and planet's s discs. 
minutes later there appeared to be a whitish spot on 8.P. 
2, 
Egress, first contact. 
At lh. 40m. 26-48s. first internal contact at egress was made, 
without any indication whatever of black drop. 
Egress, last contact. 
At 1h. 42m. 8°59s. I saw = last contact. Owing to passin 
clouds dimming sun’s dise, there may be an uncertainty of (say ) 
one second in first, and, about as in last contact at egress. 
Chronometer 
Chronometer was compared Sndlivectly with Sydney by chro- 
nograph, and I am indebted to Mr. F. F. Furber for efficient 
manner in which he noted the times of my signals. 
