ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 43, 31 May 1910, Page 2

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

PREMATURE NIGHT. COWS GO TO REST. Describing the experience at Bruni Island, where a number of scientists were stationed, but failed to take any observations on account of the rain, the Sydney Daily Telegraph states that, to the surprise of all, darkness enveloped the camp about 20 minutes before the announcement of totality. After the first impressive calm the dogs 'began to bark and the crickets chirped cheerily. The air was absolutely still, and the birds were hushed beneath the awe-in spiring pall. The voracious mosquito was the only creature that remained oblivious to the importance of the occasion, for he pursued his nefarious work throughout this ghostly night. As far as was possible with the larger instruments, the full programme was carried out. The results, however, would merely indicate the value of the light that would give no image. Long before totality everyone had been somewhat reconciled to- the loss of the full glory of the corona.. Previous experience, however, lent a faint hope of a glimpse of beauty in the wonderful cloud effects such as were seen in the mountainous country covered by the eclipse of 1851 in Norway. But disappointment 'was in store. The only light visible In the sky was a soft glow in the east beyond the hurrying shadow of the moon. The fact that one observer could not read the title print used at the top of every page of a newspaper is indicative 'of the darkness of the totality when the light did not quite equal that of a starlight night. At 30in. distant, the page of the newspaper was completely (blurred. The darkness was much more intense than during most recent eclipses. The light regained its strength at a much slower rate than that at which it disappeared before the totality. The minimum temperature recorded at Bruni Island was 54deg.—a drop of odec. 'oeing registered during the totality. The barometer fell steadily during the afternoon, but remained at 2!).85in. from 4 to 4.30 p.m. At Bellerive one of three cows sought the shelter of a fence and lay down to rest. During the total phase the temperature there dropped from G5 to sGdeg. in the 20 minutes preceding totality, and a cold north-westerly wind sprang up.