lunar mountain peaks which happen at the moment to fringe
the advancing edge of the moon. The beads are no sooner formed than they
rapidly disappear one after the other, after which no portion of the
solar surface is left to view, and the eclipse is now total (see Fig.
5).

[Illustration: _In a total Eclipse_ _In an annular Eclipse_

FIG. 5.--"Baily's Beads."]

But with the disappearance of the sun there springs into view a new and
strange appearance, ordinarily unseen because of the blaze of sunlight.
It is a kind of aureole, or halo, pearly white in colour, which is seen
to surround the black disc of the moon. This white radiance is none
other than the celebrated phenomenon widely known as the _Solar Corona_.
It was once upon a time thought to belong to the moon, and to be perhaps
a lunar atmosphere illuminated by the sunlight shining through it from
behind. But the suddenness with which the moon always blots out stars
when occulting them, has amply proved that she possesses no atmosphere
worth speaking about. It is now, however, satisfactorily determined that
the corona belongs to the sun, for during the short time that it remains
in view the black body of the moon can be seen creeping across it.

All the time that the _total phase_ (as it is called) lasts, the corona
glows with its pale unearthly light, shedding upon the earth's surface
an illumination somewhat akin to full moonlight. Usually the planet
Venus and a few stars shine out the while in the darkened heaven.
Meantime around the observer animal and plant life behave as at
nightfall. Birds go to roost, bats fly out, worms come to the surface of
the ground, flowers close up. In the Norwegian eclipse of 1896 fish were
seen rising to the surface of the water. When the total phase at length
is over, and the moon in her progress across the sky has allowed the
brilliant disc of the sun to spring into view once more at the other
side, the corona disappears.

There is another famous accompaniment of the sun which partly reveals
itself during total solar eclipses. This is a layer of red flame which
closely envelops the body of the sun and lies between it and the corona.
This layer is known by the name of the _Chromosphere_. Just as at
ordinary times we cannot see the corona on account of the blaze of
sunlight, so are we likewise unable to see the chromosphere because of
the dazzling white light which shines through from the body of the sun
underneath and comple