off than those at 8000 ft., assuredly did not
see so much or so well as those at 14,000 ft.

There occurred a total eclipse on July 11, 1880, visible in California,
but as the totality lasted only 32 secs. and the Sun's elevation was
only 11 deg., not much was got out of this eclipse notwithstanding that it
was observed in a cloudless sky at a station 6000 ft. above the sea.

The eclipse of May 17, 1882, yielded several interesting and important
features although the totality was short--only about 11/4 minutes. Here
again favourable local circumstances helped astronomers in more ways
than one. It was in Egypt that the eclipse was visible, and Egypt is a
country which it is exceedingly easy for travellers to reach, and it is
also noted for its clear skies. These were doubtless two of the reasons
which combined to inspire the elaborate preparations which were made for
photographic and spectroscopic observations. The former resulted in a
very unprecedented success. One of Dr. Schuster's photographs of the
totality showed not only the expected Corona, but an unexpected comet.

Though on more than one previous occasion in history the darkness which
is a special accompaniment of a total eclipse had caused a comet to be
seen, yet the 1882 eclipse was the first at which a comet had thrust
itself upon the notice of astronomers by means of a photographic plate.
It will be remembered that the political circumstances of Egypt in 1882
were of a somewhat strained character and probably this contributed to
the development of an unusual amount of astronomical competition in
connection with this eclipse. Not only did the Egyptian Government grant
special facilities, but strong parties went out representing England,
France, and Italy, although not perhaps in set terms at the direct
instigation of their respective Governments.

The next eclipse, that of May 6, 1883, had some dramatic features about
it. To begin with its duration was unusually long--nearly 51/2 minutes, and
Mrs. Todd in her genial American style remarks:--"After the frequent
manner of its kind, the path lay where it would be least useful--across
the wind-swept wastes of the Pacific. But fortunately one of a small
group of coral islands lay quite in its line, and, nothing daunted, the
brave scientific men set their faces toward this friendly cluster, in
cheerful faith that they could locate there. Directed to take up their
abode somewhere on a diminutive island about whic