424 
SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
ASTRONOMY. 
Eclipse of December 12, 1871. — This eclipse will probably be well 
oDserved. We have already spoken of the track of the moon’s shadow, 
Hut when our last Summary appeared it was not considered likely that an 
expedition would be sent out from England to take any part in the work 
of observation. Application has been made, however, to Government, and 
the sum of 2,000/. has been granted, as well as transport and the means of 
tamping, &c., for an English expedition to Ceylon. As a strong observing 
party will proceed from Sydney and Melbourne to the stations in northern 
Australia, while the Dutch Government will probably garrison suitable 
observing stations in Java, there is abundant reason for believing that the 
eclipse will be well observed. Observations in India will probably be 
superintended by Mr. Posson (the Government astronomer at Madras), 
Colonel Tennant, and Lieutenant Herschel. It is hoped that Mr. Lockyer 
will he able to head the expedition to Ceylon. At the present time it is, 
indeed,, understood that he will do so, in accordance with the request of the 
Astronomical Society (who have felt it incumbent upon them, we under- 
stand), to urge that one or other of our principal solar spectroscopists 
should take charge of the English expedition ; but we can regard nothing as 
definitely settled at this moment. It is hoped that M. Janssen may be 
able to go to Java. We remind our readers that in North Australia the 
totality will last 4 m. 18 sec., or 2 m. longer than at the best stations last 
December. In Java the duration will be less, and further w T est in Ceylon the 
duration will be only a few seconds longer than in last year’s eclipse. A 
slight mistake has been made on this point, however. Mr. Hind, in his 
first and comparatively rough account of the eclipse, had marked the 
shadow track as barely extending to Trincomalee. He now so places Trin- 
oomalee, with reference to the track of shadow, that he estimates the 
duration of totality there at 2 m. 30 sec. ; and it has been inferred that, 
since this is the case with a town on the border of the shadow track, places 
in Ceylon near the middle of the track will have longer totality. But, as a 
matter of fact, Trincomalee is now shown to lie very near to the middle of 
the shadow’s path. However, there can be no doubt that, with suitable 
observing weather, stations in Ceylon will have a considerable advantage 
over the best stations for observing last year's eclipse. 
As to the observations which are to be made or which require to be 
made, we have a few remarks to make. Photography is to be applied again, 
