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2. The self-luminosity. 
3. The changefulness and flickering. 
There is one point in which it differs from the solar 
corona, but this is no more than must be expected. The 
shading off of the light in the solar corona is mucli more 
rapid than that in its electrical analogue. If however the 
pressure of the air could be caused to vary so that it was 
denser round the ball, even this difference could be done 
away with. 
In this experiment, then, we have actually produced all 
the very features which are so extraordinary in the larger 
phenomenon, and were there no other evidence than this 
that the solar corona may be electrical, it seems to me that 
tliis resemblance constitutes very strong proof. When two 
things existing at different times, or in different places, 
resemble each other perfectly, and resemble nothing else in 
the range of our knowledge, surely that is high probability 
that they are similar. 
We may, however, expect, if the sun is electrical, to find 
some direct indications of its electricity; nor are such 
wanting. They are increasing every day. There is the 
sun’s effect on the electricity of the earth’s atmosphere, its 
magnetism, and the aurora; the connection between the 
sun spots and the earth, and the connection between the 
planets and the sun spots, as sliown by M. De la Rue and 
Dr. Balfour Stewart. It must be admitted that there are 
evident signs of some influence which the planetary bodies 
have on the sun and it on them ; which is not gravity nor 
the result of gravity, yet the result of heat. Almost all 
these sio'ns are of an electrical chaiacter, and some aie 
electricity itself. Moreover, electricity or electric induc- 
tion is the only other action at a distance besides gravity 
and heat that takes place, Is it not, then, probable that 
this influence is electrical ? Are we to reject an hypo- 
thesis which explains some of these phenomena, and may 
