SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
195 
small relative increase of velocity could carry matter away from the sun 
never to return , this objection will not appear decisive. We might thus, also 
(by extending similar considerations to the stars), find an explanation of 
those facts on the strength of which Mr. Stanislas Meunier has adopted the 
belief that meteorites are astral in origin, as well as those yet more remark- 
able facts revealed by Mr. Sorby’s microscopic, and the late Professor Gra- 
ham’s chemical, analysis of these bodies. The great velocity of some meteors, 
or (which is the same thing) the hyperbolic figure of the paths on which they 
approach the sun — a phenomenon hitherto deemed inexplicable — would be 
accounted for abo in this manner. But whatever theory we adopt to in- 
terpret the matter, it remains as a demonstrated fact that the corona indi- 
cates the action of radial solar forces. 
Amongst other results of the eclipse expeditions must be mentioned the 
important observation made by Professor Young and Mr. Pye, of the reversal 
of all the Fraunhofer lines close by the sun’s limb at the instant of totality 
and for a few seconds after. This proves that there is close by and outside 
the visible photosphere a dense and highly complex atmosphere. We may 
say, in fact, that Professor Young and Mr. Pye have determined the birth- 
place of the Fraunhofer lines. Mr. Lockyer, indeed, has expressed doubts 
whether Professor Young and Mr. Pye could have seen the Fraunhofer lines 
thus reversed ; because he considers that the method by which the limb of 
the uneclipsed sun is spectroscopically observed ought uniformly to show the 
reversal, whereas he has observed it but once and Professor Young never. 
He has omitted to consider, however, that in one important — or, rather, essen- 
tial — respect, an observation made at the moment of totality, when the solar 
and lunar limbs touch, must have an enormous advantage over one made by 
the Janssen method. The effects of irradiation, and of the sensible dimensions 
of the optical image of each point of the solar photosphere, would in the latter 
case more than suffice to obliterate all traces of the complex atmosphere, 
even though that atmosphere were a hundred miles or so deep (as was 
pointed out in Mr. Proctor’s papers in the last number but one of this 
magazine *). But when the limb is viewed as by Young and Pye both 
these effects are completely got rid of. It may be added that Father Secchi’s 
observation of a continuous spectrum at the very limb of the uneclipsed sun 
is confirmed, as Professor Young points out, by the reversal of the Fraun- 
hofer lines seen by the latter and Mr. Pye. 
Great doubt rests on the polariscopic observations, insomuch that while 
some are assured that the light of the corona was radially polarized, others 
are equally positive that it was either polarized in the same plane as the at- 
mospheric light, or not at all. The spectroscopic observations prove that the 
light of the corona may be divided into two chief portions— one giving a 
faint continuous spectrum (probably this is the largest portion of the corona’s 
* We are requested to state that in the last line but one of p. 40 in our 
last number, Mr. Proctor has, by mistake, written u the honorary secretary ” 
for a the assistant honorary secretary, Mr. A. C. Itanyard.” It was due to the 
courteous letters of this gentleman that some who took part in the expedi- 
tions were prevented from withdrawing on the score of rather abrupt treat- 
ment. 
