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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
Here, then, is yet another reason for expecting that when the 
sun is eclipsed light would be seen around him. 
The perihelia of comets, again, are known to be very richly 
distributed in the sun’s neighbourhood as compared with more 
distant regions. Considering that for every discovered comet 
hundreds escape discovery (a circumstance recognised by all 
astronomers), and adding to that consideration the discovery 
that a proportion, at any rate, of known comets have trains of 
meteoric attendants, we have fresh reason for expecting that 
the sun’s neighbourhood during total obscuration would be a 
region of brightness. 
Lastly, Venus and Mercury, when in inferior conjunction, are 
seen to be projected as dark bodies on a relatively bright 
background. The light which illuminates that background 
would undoubtedly be discernible during the total obscuration 
of the sun. 
Against the theory to which we have thus been led, both by 
the weight of positive evidence against all other theories, and 
by the overwhelming weight of evidence in its own favour, no 
evidence has ever, I believe, been adduced. No one has pre- 
tended to point to a single argument which seems opposed to 
the theory. Nor has any attempt ever been made to support 
the other theories under the weight of those arguments which 
have been urged as conclusive against them. 
Thus, then, the matter rests at present. I would submit to 
those who desire to see the cause of astronomy successfully ad- 
vanced, that a case has been made out for directing future obser- 
vations to the analysis of the structure and physical condition 
of a veritable solar appendage, in place of wasting the energy 
of observers in the attempt to resolve a question which has 
already been fully answered. If, next December, observers 
regard the corona as a solar appendage, numberless ways of 
determining what the nature of that appendage may be can 
scarcely fail to suggest themselves. Observations made with 
such an object, and according to methods so suggested, cannot 
fail to be most instructive and useful. But if, on the other 
hand, observers regard the corona as an object whose real 
position in the solar system is undetermined, as an object 
which may be ninety millions of miles away round the sun, or 
a quarter of a million of miles away round the moon, or close 
by within a few hundred miles of us in our own atmosphere, it 
must needs be that their observations will be ill-directed and 
relatively valueless. This consideration, and only this, has led 
me to dwell as strongly as possible, while there is yet time, on 
considerations which (as I take it) are amply sufficient to guide 
the thoughtful student of nature to a just general opinion as to 
the position of the corona in the solar system. 
