340 CAPTAIN L. DARWIN, DR. A. SCHUSTER, AND MR. E. W. MAUNDER 
It appectTS most prol^able that, whilst taking the reference spectrum, I inadvei-tentlj 
exposed the plates to full San shine for a moment or so; for it does not appear possible 
that the exposure at the actual time of the eclipse can have been prolonged beyond 
the duration of the total phase. It is to be much regretted that the attempt was 
made to secure anything beyond the coronal spectrum upon the same plate with it, 
and that any instrument not absolutely necessary should have been mounted on the 
same stand as the cameras and their accessories. But for this mistake I should prob¬ 
ably have had to report the success of all the nine photographs instead of that of only 
six of tliem. 
X. Description of the Eclipse and Drawing of the Corona. By Captain 
Irwin C. Mating, Colonial Secretary. 
The Total Eclipse of the Sun on the 29th August, 1886, was observed by me 
from Prickly Point, Grenada, West Indies, the station selected by Captain L. 
Dapavin, R.E., and Mr. A. Schuster, F.R..S., of the Eclipse Expedition; they kindly 
requested me to take charge of the disc, and the following are the results of my 
observations :— 
Pi’evious to the commencement of totality my eyes were covered for 10 minutes to 
enable the sight to be as strong as possible ; I had, however, scarcely begun my 
drawing when a small drift of cloud passed over the eclipse, hiding it for about 
40 seconds, after whicli time it was perfectly clear, and I was enabled to continue my 
observations. The Moon was surrounded by a bright halo resembling that painted 
round the heads of saints in old pictures, from which long streams of light extended, 
varying much in length, form, and apparent density. The longest ray was on the 
upper right side. It was of a bright pale yellow, fading into white at the extreme 
point; it appeared to be about two and a half times the diameter of my disc. 
The next longest, and I admit most beautiful, streamer was on the left side, in 
about the 315°, counting from zenith to the right, and immediately above a small red 
prominence. This ray differed from its companion on the right, inasmuch that it was 
of a conical shape, dense along the edges and upper curve, and gradually thinning 
towards the corona. Its colour appeared to be of a whitish-yellow, and the centre 
seemed to be hollow, as if one could see through it. This description also applies to 
the smaller conical shaped rays on the right and the lower part of the corona. 
I further observed twm small prominences of a red salmon colour on the left of the 
Moon. The upper one was round, the lower irregular and angular, apparently in 
contact with the Moon, or immediately contiguous to it. 
It will be observed that a smali space between the long conical streamer and zenith 
is left bare. I was unable to complete my drawing, owing to totality being over. 
