149 
He mentioned also that the colours may be produced by 
making a black disc, with figures cut out of it, revolve before 
a white cloud or white screen. 
There were many others which he had no time to enume- 
rate, much less to describe, but he described some of the 
figures which produce the phenomena which are perceived 
when looking through transparent solids. 
The Author considered that his theory gave an entirely 
new and simple explanation of the phenomena of refraction 
through the prism, and summed up as follows : — 
The experiments prove the homogeneity of the ether. 
They prove the undulatory hypothesis, but oppose the 
undulatory theory. 
They enable us to dispense with the different refrangi- 
bilities of the rays of light, as taught by Newton. 
They help to explain many of the phenomena of what is 
called the polarization of light. 
They give a new explanation of prismatic refraction, and 
explain in a plain and simple manner many very interesting 
natural phenomena. 
Startling, he said, as these conclusions are to those who 
are conversant with the subject of light, he thought he was 
perfectly warranted in drawing them from his experiments. 
The general process of reasoning could not, however, be given 
in a short abstract. 
