SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
77 
Professor Van der Weyde remarks that the observations prove nothing as 
to the electric or non-electric nature of the auroral light ; but prove suffi- 
ciently that that light is not derived in any way from the sun. 
Triplicity of the November Meteor-stream. — Mr. Alexander Herschel con- 
siders that the observations made on the November meteors in the years 
1866, 1867, and 1868, go far to prove that instead of one stream, there are 
three distinct streams. In each of those years there were noticed three 
maxima, separated by well-marked intervals during which there was a sort 
of lull. 
We may notice, in this connection, that the November meteors by no 
means gave a grand display this year, in Europe at any rate. The weather 
was unfavourable, however, and possibly we may still hear of star-showers 
observed in America or Asia. 
The Solar Prominences. — Dr. Zollner has taken some remarkable views of 
solar prominences observed by aid of the spectroscope — with an open slit. 
Perhaps the most interesting of the series are six taken within the course of 
twenty-three minutes. The prominence observed changed figure in a most 
remarkable manner. Its height varied from about thirty-five to about forty 
seconds, or from about 14,000 to about 16,000 miles ; but the changes of 
figure were most singular. At first the prominence was bowed towards the 
right, the centre of its apparent mass lying some 2,000 miles from an upright 
drawn through the centre of the narrow base. Ten minutes later the 
prominence had not only changed in figure but had become perfectly upright. 
It resembled at this time a tree, with an upright stem occupying about 
one-third of its total height. Only two minutes later the greater part of the 
stem had vanished and the mass of the prominence had passed over towards 
the left. Three minutes later a complete change had passed over the figure 
of the prominence ; it now resembled an A, the left-hand stroke representing 
what had been the stem, and the down stroke abnormally thick. Eight 
minutes later it had again changed totally in aspect ; now resembling a 
camel’s head turned towards the right. When the enormous real volume 
of the prominence is considered, these changes cannot but be looked upon as 
highly significant. We may feel convinced that processes of enormous 
violence must be in action to occasion movements so rapid. Mr. Lockyer’s 
estimates of the rate at which the solar cyclonic storms sweep on their 
course, are fully justified by these observed motions of displacement. 
Changes of Colour in Jupiter. — Mr. Browning has noticed a series of very 
remarkable changes in the colour of the great equatorial belt of Jupiter. 
Usually, as all observers of this planet are aware, the equatorial belt is of a 
pearly-white colour; but recently it has exhibited a variety of colours, 
ranging from coppery-red to chrome-yellow, with occasional tints of green. 
For a considerable time its colour very closely resembled that called yellow- 
lake — a peculiar greenish-yellow. That these changes of colour are well- 
marked, is shown by the fact that they have not only been seen by Mr. 
Browning with his fine 12^-inch reflector, but by Mr. Slack with a 6-inch 
Browning-With reflector, and by other observers with instruments of about 
the same size. It seems clear that processes of great interest are taking 
place in the atmosphere of Jupiter ; and the planet ought to be carefully 
watched by those who possess telescopes of adequate power. One is led to 
