stated that inside a
house in Spain the darkness was so great that people moving about had to
take great care lest they should run violently against the household
furniture.

Perhaps on the whole it may be said that the darkness of an ordinary
totality is decidedly greater than that of a full Moon night.

Many observers have noted during totality that even when there has not
been any very extreme amount of absolute darkness, yet the ruddy light
already mentioned as prevailing towards the horizon often gives rise to
weird unearthly effects, so that the faces of bystanders assume a
sickly livid hue not unlike that which results from the light of burning
salt.

METEOROLOGICAL AND OTHER EFFECTS.

It is very generally noticed that great changes take place in the
meteorological conditions of the atmosphere as an eclipse of the Sun
runs its course from partial phase to totality, and back again to
partial phase. It goes without saying that the obstruction of the solar
rays by the oncoming Moon would necessarily lead to a steady and
considerable diminution in the general temperature of the air. This has
often been made the matter of exact thermometric record, but it is not
equally obvious why marked changes in the wind should take place. As the
partial phase proceeds it is very usual for the wind to rise or blow in
gusts and to die away during totality, though there are many exceptions
to this, and it can hardly be called a rule.

The depression of temperature varies very much indeed according to the
locality where the eclipse is being observed and the local thermometric
conditions which usually prevail. The actual depression will often
amount to 10 deg. or 20 deg. and the deposit of dew is occasionally noticed.

In addition to the general effects of a total solar eclipse on men,
animals, and plants as summarised in the extract already made from Mrs.
Todd's book a few additional particulars may be given culled from many
recorded observations. Flowers and leaves which ordinarily close at
night begin long before totality to show signs of closing up. Thus we
are told that in 1836 "the crocus, gentian and anemone partially closed
their flowers and reopened them as the phenomenon passed off: and a
delicate South African mimosa which we had reared from a seed entirely
folded its pinnate leaves until the Sun was uncovered." In 1851 "the
night violet, which shortly before the beginning of the eclipse had
lit