TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, JANUARY 22, 1898. 
179 
scarcely be seen ; it was anchored 2 miles off, and the height of the eye above sea- 
level was 70 feet. 
“ The darkness at totality was of about bright twilight. A cool westerly breeze 
came in suddenly, which made the air chill}- and the temperature fall considerably.” 
Ohservations of Sliadoiv Bands. 
Stad-Surgeon Nolan, R.N., observed these phenomena with the help of two 
assistants. He reports as follows :— 
“ To observe these a large white tablecloth was spread on a flat piece of ground, 
and the corner of a wall which gave two planes at an angle of about 115° to each 
other was whitewashed. The angle of these vertical planes was towards the sun. 
Two square heavy rods were also provided, 3 feet long, the centre foot being painted 
black, the ends white. These were to indicate the direction in which the shadow- 
bands travelled ; they were to be placed on the white sheet parallel to the direction 
of the bands, and their exact position afterwards determined. One, marked ‘ Before, 
was to be used before totality, the other, marked ^ After,’ was to be used after. The 
black foot in the centre was to assist the eye in estimating the breadth of the 
shadows and interspaces. 
The bands commenced to ap2)ear at 12'' 41"' 35®. 
,, ceased ,, at the second contact. 
,, reappeared at the third contact. 
,, ceased altogether at 12'* 51"' 42®. 
None were observed during totality, though looked for. As they continued to tlie 
very moment of the second contact, and reappeared as rapidly at the third, it was 
thought that possibly the darkness rendered them invisible. 
“ The Direction of Travelling. —The rods showed that the general direction of the 
bands before totality was to the west, and the first rod was placed pointing N. 88° W., 
but the direction of the course of the bands gradually veered round 40°-45° to the 
south, and remained in this direction for the last two-thirds, or perhaps a little 
more, of their duration before totality. It was also noted by Private Hester, who 
was specially told off to observe the direction and place the rods, that for a few 
moments Ijefore the marked change izi direction took place to the south, the bands 
seemed to waver and chano:ed towards the north 10°-15° three or four times. The 
direction of the bands after totality was to N. G0° E., and was constant. The bands, 
therefore, for most of the time before totality, travelled in exactly the opposite 
direction to those after totality. This was observed on the white flame, and noted 
separately by three observers, S. B. S. Puekington, Private Hester, and myself In 
this connection, note a short report below, given by Mr. Mountieield, who inci¬ 
dentally observed the bands. 
2 A 2 
