TRANSIT OF VENUS. 329 
(Sketch A.) 
Soon after the view was suddenly obscured, and I at once 
put down the key, which marked 29’ 02". On looking up I found 
that a small dense cloud in an otherwise clear sky had got in the 
way, and looked as if it would pass in a few seconds. When it 
did pass, however, I found the contact was over, and at once put 
down the key to mark the appearance B, when the tape showed 
yi 33 20". 3 
Having thus lost the Internal Contact observation, the sun 
being now very sharp, I remarked that the outline of the portion 
of the planet on the sun was quite symmetrical, and that the 
cusps were beautifully sharp. While observing closely at 7h. 40’, 
the outline of the emerged limb of the planet suddenly became 
apparent against the dark background of space as a delicate 
violet-tinted streak, having its concave edge sharp but the convex 
edge discontinuous. I brought this appearance out more 
distinctly by cutting off the sun’s limb with a dense glass. Its 
extreme width I estimate at about 1-5o0th of its distance from 
the sun, which was about a semi-diameter of the planet. 
Suddenly, with a twinkle, this phenomenon disappeared, and I 
called time at 7h. 42’. This twinkle made a most distinct 
impression on me. There was not the least vibration at the time 
and my eye was not fatigued, as I still saw the “ rice grains” on 
the sun’s surface. 
I then waited for External Contact, and got it clear and 
distinct, the last trace of a notch in the sun’s edge disappearing 
sharp at 7h. 50’ 55""5. 
As the error of the chronometer on the previous day on 
