126 Capt. D. Rennoldsori on the Solar Eclipse of 1868. [Nov. 19, 



' Rangoon' on the morning of the 18th inst. The ship was at that time 

 on the central line, viz. in lat. 15° 42' N., long. 59° 15' E. 



" The total eclipse lasted 4' 8". The sketch shows what was seen by a 

 large number of persons. In observing with the spectroscope, I saw what 

 none of the others could see with their glasses, viz. two prominences on the 

 right limb of the moon (showing in the spectroscope to the left) of a yellow 

 flame-colour, immediately opposite to the red ones, the whole forming a 

 square, with the moon in the centre, showing out like a mass of rock. The 

 colour of the corona, as seen through the prism, was red, a yellowish green, 

 blue, and violet, — the violet the brightest till the middle of the eclipse, 

 when the red became lumpy and showed brighter. 



" The spectrum from the moon cut through the centre of this, but very 

 faint, the red thrown out with a curve. 



" The motion of the ship was so great it was impossible to get minute 

 observations ; so much haze and flying cloud, only Venus and one other 

 star could be seen. 



I return the spectroscope, and am only sorry I could not make more 

 use of it. " I am, &c, 



(Signed) " D. Rennoldson, 



"Commander S. S. * Rangoon.' " 



Capt. Henry, Superintendent 

 F. % 6. S. N. C, Bombay. 



[This letter was accompanied by four coloured sketches of the promi- 

 nences and corona. Of these No. 1 shows a small low prominence extend- 

 ing from about azimuth 144° to 150°, azimuths being measured in the di- 

 rection of the motion of the hands of a watch, round the centre of the 

 moon's disk, from the highest point, and another low prominence from 

 azimuth 160° to 180°. No. 2 shows a lofty prominence at azimuth 198°, 

 curved in the upper part, with the concavity turned in the direction of in- 

 creasing azimuth, and a low prominence from azimuth 332° to 345°. No. 3 

 shows the long prominence at azimuth 202°, and the upper prominence at 

 azimuth 320° to 338°. No. 4 shows the long prominence, reduced in 

 height, at azimuth 212°, and the upper prominence at azimuth 230° to 

 255°. -The figures are thus described.] 



No. 1. A small red flame or protuberance on the right-hand lower 

 corner of the moon, visible for a few seconds before the sun was totally 

 eclipsed ; disappeared a few seconds after. 



No. 2. l^ m after commencement of total eclipse. A large red flame of 

 about 5' of arc on lower left-hand corner, and a red flame or blotch on 

 upper left hand — both visible from commencementof totality,andverybiight. 



No. 3. 3 m after commencement. The long red flame rather shorter, and 

 the upper one increased in size. 



No. 4. At reappearance of sun's upper limb the upper protuberance dis- 

 appeared ; the lower one was visible for about 10 s after, about half its 

 former size. 



