ible off the northern coast of South America and on the West Coast of
Africa. Attempts were made to utilise the South American chances by
English and American parties, whilst a small expedition comprising
astronomers of both nations went to Cape Ledo in West Africa. The
African efforts failed entirely owing to clouds, but the South American
parties at Cayenne were successful. One very deplorable result, however,
arising out of the expedition to Cayenne was the illness and subsequent
death of the Rev. S. J. Perry, S.J., who was struck down by malaria and
died at sea on the return journey. None who knew Mr. Perry personally
could fail to realise what a loss he was both to astronomy generally and
to his own circle of friends particularly.

On April 16, 1893, there happened a total eclipse of the Sun, which was
successfully watched by a large number of skilled observers throughout
its entire length. Indeed it is believed that only one party was
unsuccessful. The line of totality started on the coast of Chili, passed
over the highlands of that country, across the borders of Argentina and
Paraguay, and over the vast plains and forests of Central Brazil,
emerging at about noon of local time at a short distance to the N.-W. of
Ceara on the North Atlantic seaboard. Crossing the Atlantic nearly at
its narrowest part, it struck the coast of Africa N. of the river
Gambia, and finally disappeared somewhere in the Sahara. The South
American observations were the most extensive and successful, the latter
fact being due to the circumstance that the sky at many of the principal
stations was pre-eminently favourable, owing to the clearness and
dryness of the atmosphere.

On Sept. 29, 1894, there was a total eclipse of the Sun, but as its
duration was brief and the zone of totality lay chiefly over the Indian
Ocean, practically nothing came of it.

Things seemed, however, much more promising for the total eclipse of
Aug. 9, 1896, and a very large number of observers went out to the North
of Norway hoping to catch the shadow at its European end, whilst a
yacht party went to Nova Zembla in the Arctic Ocean, and a few observers
travelled as far as Japan. So far as the very large number of would-be
observers who went from England to Norway were concerned, the eclipse
was a profound disappointment, for owing to bad weather practically
nothing was seen in Norway except on the West coast near Bodoe, where the
weather was beautifully fine, but