ely before
the extinction of the Sun's light and incidental thereto there are some
minor features which must be briefly noticed.

[Illustration: FIG. 8.--BRUSHES OF LIGHT.]

The Corona first makes its appearance on the side of the dark Moon
opposite to the disappearing crescent, but brushes of light are
sometimes observed on the same side, along the convex limb of the
disappearing crescent. The appearance of the brushes will be
sufficiently realised by an inspection of the annexed engraving without
the necessity of any further verbal description. These brushes are
little, if at all, coloured, and must not be confused with the "Red
Flames" or "Prominences" hereafter to be described.

BAILY'S BEADS.

When the disc of the Moon has advanced so much over that of the Sun as
to have reduced the Sun almost to the narrowest possible crescent of
light, it is generally noticed that at a certain stage the crescent
suddenly breaks up into a succession of spots of light. These spots are
sometimes spoken of as "rounded" spots, but it is very doubtful whether
(certainly in view of their supposed cause) they could possibly be
deemed ever to possess an outline, which by any stretch, could be called
"rounded." Collating the recorded descriptions, some such phrase as
"shapeless beads" of light would seem to be the most suitable
designation. These are observed to form before the total phase, and
often also after the total phase has passed. Under the latter
circumstances, the beads of light eventually run one into another, like
so many small drops of water merging into one big one. The commonly
received explanation of "Baily's Beads" is that they are no more than
portions of the Sun's disc, seen through valleys between mountains of
the Moon, the said mountains being the cause why the bright patches are
discontinuous. It is exceedingly doubtful whether this is the true
explanation. The whole question is involved in great uncertainty, and
well deserves careful study during future eclipses; but this it is not
likely to get, in view of the current fashion of every sufficiently
skilled observer concentrating his attention on matters connected with
the solar Corona (observed spectroscopically or otherwise), to the
exclusion of what may be called older subjects of study. I will dismiss
Baily's Beads from our consideration with the remark that the first
photograph of them was obtained at Ottumwa, Illinois, U.S., dur