ON THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF AUGUST 29, 1886. 
309 
3. Results of First Test, or Photographs taken hefore the Eclipse. 
For the first test, that is, the one by means of photogi’aphs taken before or after 
the eclipse, I had intended to have taken several series, but fortune did not favour 
me. We reached Prickly Point on a Tuesday. By the following Sunday, although a 
great deal remained to be done in the way of final preparations and adjustments, I was 
able to take my first photograph. This left me six clear days before the eclipse in 
which to make the final arrangements, to obtain that experience so necessary when 
working in a new climate, and, in my case, with an instrument with vvhich I was not 
very familiar, and also to obtain, if possible, one or more series of photographs for the 
test in question. I may here remark that, before starting. Dr. Huggins had given 
me every possible assistance and advice, without which I could hardly have under¬ 
taken the work ; and that I had also spent several mornings in London in practising 
with the coronagraph, but from want of time I had to entrust a great deal of the 
troublesome preparation at home to Mr. Lvwrance, to whose careful attention at this 
period I owe a great deal. As already remarked, the weather was very unfavourable, 
and on several days photographic work was an impossibility; on others I could only 
get casual photographs in the intervals between the frequent tropical showers, or in 
gaps in the cloudy sky. For two days after the eclipse the weather was also 
unfavourable. In fact it was only on the day before the eclipse that I succeeded in 
getting a series of photogra])hs about noon in both positions ; but, the rapidity of 
change in form of the corona being an unknown quantity, the shorter the interval the 
more valuable would the photographs be. The sky on that day was variable, but 
generally clear—as clear as it ever was during our stay in the West Indies, but not, 
I think, as clear as it often is in England. 
Soon after coming home, Mr. Wesley, who has had great experience with regard 
to photographs of a similar nature, very kindly undertook to examine this series. 
Several of the negatives exhibited corona-like markings, but Mr. Wesley could not 
find any detail on any one of the photographs which was confirmed by the others. 
This was done before he had' had an opportunity of seeing the photographs of the 
corona taken during totality. Had he succeeded in making a drawing'of the supposed 
corona, its comparison with the true corona would have therefore afforded a valuable 
test as to its genuineness; under the circumstances this was, of course, impossible. 
Mr. Wesley also informs me that he thinks that “ the photographs taken on the 
same side are as little comparable with eacli other as with those taken on the opposite 
sides,” which, as far as it goes, indicates that the irregularities are due to atmospheric 
ratber than to instrumental causes. My own opinion on the above points coincides 
with that of Mr. Wesley ; but I was especially glad to obtain his assistance, because of 
his large experience, and also because he had not at that time seen any photograph of 
the corona. 
