' - [ '*+ ] 
f , 
* other. ‘Again, in fig. 4, the two fpots q t r t had their 
i umbra? deficient , by the intervention of fome fmall 
fpots, that lay between them. 
Now it mull here be particularly remarked, that 
7 though a fpot, when undifturbed, -will, when near 
1 the fun’s limb, exhibit the change of the umbra 
formerly mentioned, yet it is plain, that a cafe 
may now and then occur, when this change will 
, be counterafled, by means of the phenomenon 
which we have juft now delcribed. For if we 
fhould fuppofe, for example, the fpot m, fig. 1. 
Tab. IV. to have been on November 9th, near the 
weftern limb, -it is evident, that we fhould have 
.formed a different judgment concerning - the change 
of the umbra. And accordingly, in the courfe of 
the obfervations formerly mentioned, I in reality 
: met with three cafes, when this change did net 
take place. 
I am ienfible, that it may be thought ftrange, 
that none of the obfervers, who had looked at the 
folar fpots with lo much attention, fhould ever 
have taken notice of the gradual changes above 
delcribed. This partly may be accounted for from 
the following considerations. We have already 
fee 11, that conjectures, concerning the nature of the 
fun, were early indulged in the courfe of this in- 
quiry. His body was thought to be an immenfe 
globe of fire, which was for ever raging with the 
moft fervent heat. Jdence the firft oblervcrs, re- 
Hefling upon the perpetual generation, changes, 
and decay of the fpots, and that through lo wide 
ap. extent of his lurface, very naturally imagined, 
ihat they could confift of nothing but fmoke and 
o- roller 
D 
