I 34 
The Constitution of the Sun . 
[March, 
If we were merely searching for an analogy between solar 
and terrestrial phenomena, we might point to the sun’s 
undoubted solidity and revolution on his axis, — his similarity 
of composition, — his atmosphere and clouds, — his aerial 
currents and cyclones, — the correspondence of his spot belts 
with our sub-tropical zones, — and last, though by no means 
least, the correspondence of these belts with the situation of our 
own oceans . 
But analogy alone is no proof. We require more than 
mere resemblance. His atmosphere and clouds, though like 
in appearance, might differ greatly in composition from our 
own ; his aerial currents might bear the breath of the fiery 
furnace ; and his oceans, though occupying the same relative 
positions, and stirred by the same forces, might be very dif- 
ferent from the simple compound of oxygen and hydrogen 
with which we are acquainted. Still, we cannot get away 
from the faCt that where there is a somewhat complete 
analogy there is probably a more intimate connection. But, 
be that as it may, it is from the correspondence of the spot- 
zones with the position of the greater bulk of the waters of 
our oceans that we mean to draw our chief argument. 
SirWm. Herschel supposed the sun to be a non-luminous 
body surrounded by a luminous atmosphere, and sun-spots 
to be rifts in that envelope through which his dark body was 
seen. We, on the other hand, suppose the solid or earthy 
parts to be luminous, and the liquid parts to be nearly non- 
luminous, so that if a rift took place in his clouds over a 
solid part we would see that part more luminous than its 
surroundings ; but if the opening took place immediately 
over water, then it would be seen as a comparatively dark 
spot, bright at the edges from reflection, and more or less 
shaded towards the centre, according to the height above the 
surface of the water at which the rift took place. 
That such appearances would result from an arrangement 
of this kind can be easily demonstrated as follows : — Stretch 
a piece of white paper over the mouth of a glass funnel 
blackened inside to exclude outside light, and make an 
opening of about half an inch in diameter in the centre of 
the paper. Then fix the funnel mouth downwards at a short 
distance over water contained in a vessel with blackened 
bottom, and a little less in diameter than the funnel. Here, 
the paper represents the sun’s envelope ; the aperture, a 
sun-spot ; the water, the liquid part of his surface ; light 
from the outside, rays emanating from his solid parts ; and 
an eye placed at the opening in the neck of the funnel, an 
observer at the earth’s surface. On looking through the 
