MR. H. H. TURNER ON THE 
n8G 
square, with a gabled roof, the ridge running north and south. The door for entrance 
was in the western face. The eastern roof consisted almost entirely of two shutters, 
which could easily be thrown open with a pole ; and, after this, a large portion of the 
eastern face (which, in my own case, was enlarged still further) could be opened, 
turning about hinges which ran horizontally across the face. This gave practically a 
clear view eastwards from the sea horizon up to the zenith, so that it was possible to 
work on the Sun from sunrise to midday. The instruments inside were further pro¬ 
tected from drippings by mackintosh covers. My own instrument consisted of the 
Simms equatorial No. 1, with a grating spectroscope ; and a 4-inch telescope by Simms, 
mounted as a part-counterpoise on the same polar axis. The whole Aveight Avas about 
15 cwt. ; and, as my Avork was not to be photographic, and no very great steadiness Avas 
necessary, it Avas found suflfcient to place the base plate (an iron plate 3 feet in 
diameter) on the soil, after removing the turf. 
After Tuesday, August 17, the mornings were generally fine, and eAmrything Avas 
soon in order for observation. Lieutenant Smith rated the chronometer (Arnold and 
Dent, 965) by sextant observations of equal altitudes of the Sun with an artificial 
horizon ; the local time of totality was found to be correct Avithin a feAV seconds. 
In taking a photograph of the portion of the spectrum under observation, some 
difficulty was found in preventing the film from becoming detached during develop¬ 
ment or washing. I found at last that drying the plate thoroughly by the stove 
before taking the photograph prevented this detaching. 
The night of August 28-29 was beautifully fine, but at sunrise clouds began to 
gather, and the observations of the eclipse Avere made under considerable difficulties. 
The folloAving notes Avill give some idea of the circumstances ;— 
h. 
m. 
s. 
From sunrise to 6 
30 
0 
Cloudy. 
6 
30 
0 
Sun appeared. 
6 
31 
30 
Cloudy. 
6 
33 
15 
Clear. 
G 
34 
15 
Cloudy. 
G 
41 
20 
Clear. 
6 
45 
30 
Slight shower ; Sun visible. 
6 
47 
0 
ShoAA^er passed. 
G 
48 
0 
Another shower. 
G 
49 
5 
ShoAver passed. 
6 
52 
20 
Showery. 
G 
55 
0 
ShoAver passed. 
6 
56 
30 
Cloudy. 
7 
0 
20 
Clear. 
7 
10 
10 
Cloudy for ten seconds. 
7 
12 
0 
Totalitv. 
