"When the disc of the sun had diminished to a small crescent, preparations were made for the totality. As I could collect no reliable data as to the intensity of the light of the luminous prominences and corona previous to the expedition, I was working under great disadvantages, and I confess from all that I could learn previously I had very faint hopes of depicting the corona at all; and I was led to think from the colour of the prominences, that if I did get a picture of the corona, my only hope was to get the prominences as dark markings, on the supposed more brilliant corona. Although my own observations during the totality gave me greater hopes of success, it was with a thrill of pleasure that, in answer to my questions, I learnt from Mr. Reynolds [his assistant] that the picture was coming out under the influence of the developing fluid."

quickly other military and naval operations. For strategical purposes in time of war, aerial photography will be called into requisition from cars of balloons, which will enable us to reconnoitre the enemy's plans and fortifications out of range of gun-shot. Several attempts have been made to test the practical value of photography in conjunction with aërostation, and with partial success, by Mr. H. Negretti, in Mr. Coxwell's balloon--ably piloted by that gentleman-who has established the fact that photography is almost as feasible an idea at an elevation as it is on terra firma.

Machinery, no matter of what magnitude, is constantly copied by photography, which, in the impulse of a single moment, renders the most complicated and elaborate system of cranks, wheels, piston-rods, eccentric motions, &c., easily and correctly copied, whilst to make even an inferior A very successful impression of Donati's drawing would occupy the most skilful comet of 1859 was secured by Mr. Usher- draughtsman days or even weeks. It is wood, an artist residing on Walton-com- most generally useful in furnishing copies non, whose residence is situated about of portions or parts of machinery as 700 feet above the sea-level. This is the patterns, which are easily transmitted only instance recorded of a photograph | by post, thereby economising time and of that comet being obtained.

Photographs of Saturn, the double star Mizar, and its companion a Lyra, and other luminus globes, have been faithfully registered. To Mr. Warren De la Rue great praise is due for the assiduity and preseverance with which he has laboured for the science of astronomy.

The botanist cannot fail obtaining much valuable information by the use of the camera, being enabled to produce copies of every form of vegetable life in all its minuteness of perfection, from the coarse ligneous structure of the stalwart tree, to the almost imperceptible fibre of the tiniest moss and fungi.

The calico printers multiply their patterns and designs, and there is a great probability of the art itself being made available for various purposes of orna. mentation.

The engineer, either military, civil, or practical, has long since availed himself of the utility of the camera by securing drawings of land and coast fortifications at home and abroad; recording the effects of fire upon breaches, and chronicling

expense.

The engraver readily seeks the aid of the camera to reduce or enlarge drawings, that he may with greater facility and correctness transfer the same to steel, copper, or wood; but photography promises to become a most formidable rival to the steel and copper engraver, inasmuch as there are already several processes, which, in almost one operation, copies or views from nature are photographed and engraved by the joint agency of light and chemistry, without even the remotest touch of the burin or graver; still photography is held in tow to a certain extent, owing to its inability in creating ideas, consequently rendering our art in that capacity little more than a mere copyist.

The ethnologist will also become more familiarly acquainted with the physiognomy of the various races of mankind by the assistance of photographic portraiture.

The geologist can obtain accurate de lineations of fossil formations, of stone or minerals, landslips, volcanic craters,

railway cuttings and tunnellings, disinte- isation and the changes of the cords in grated granite masses, or any striking and the production of the different chest and peculiar natural formations, with a great falsetto notes. By this alone the physiosaving of time over the method of sketch-logist becomes acquainted with one of the ing; and may also fill their portfolios greatest anomalies in human nature. with a most valuable and interesting collection of copies of the finest tertiary and other fossils to be seen at most of our

museums.

The historian may now obtain facsimile copies of the Doomsday Book, Magna Charta, and other ancient manuscripts, which have already been most successfully produced by Colonel Henry James, R.E., of the Ordnance Survey Office, by his process of photo-zincography.

The mineralogist hails with delight the birth of an art like photography, by which he is enabled to acquire the most recherché specimens of mineralogy, many of which crystallise in such complicated groups as to be almost impossible of imitation by any other means; and the works of nature in general, such as gorgonias, sea-anemones, the endless varieties of coral marine algæ, sponges, echnites, and the different forms of vegetable or zoophytic life.

The schoolmaster has before him a choice collection of subjects suitable for tuition in various branches of education, especially studies from nature of trees, rocks, crystals of quartz, and other minerals, fossils, &c., possessing all the minute and delicate details, surpassed only by the natural object itself.

The sculptor may become acquainted with the works of bygone celebrities in their own branch, and may enhance the greatness of their own minds by securing photographic copies of the marbles of the Vatican, and the richest treasures of European museums which they may study with the same faithfulness as reality. He may also work photographs until the bust or statue is nearly completed, when the few finishing touches may be made from the living model of whom it is intended.

The zoologist will become much more enlightened in his ideas upon seeing photographic representations of birds or The naturalist will find ample scope animals unacclimatised in this country, for the appliances of photography inaccurately delineated with all the peculiar securing the exact representation of features of the originals. various species of butterflies, moths, larvæ, &c., and others of the insect tribe found in Europe at large; and obtain fac-similes with microscopic correctness of the many beautiful markings with which nature has adorned them, as well as the true form of the almost invisible down found on the covering of insect

nature.

The physician and surgeon have long since patronised the art as a most ready and reliable means of registering the various stages of disease "which mortal flesh is heir to;" and have studied such drawinga with greater pleasure and comfort than the decomposed portions of the disease itself, and with equal satisfaction. By means of the laryngoscope of Professor Czermak, most minute photographs of the organs of the voice in action have been obtained, in which are correctly depicted the whole glottis and adjacent parts, showing its condition during vocal

The celebrated Bayeux tapestry, which is still in preservation in Normandy, the work of Matilda, Queen of William the Conqueror, assisted by the ladies of the Norman court, was some time since reproduced most successfully by photography, by Herr Albert, of Munich, thereby placing this most interesting historical record within the reach of all historians. ⚫(To be continued.)

KNITTING-BOX IN WOOL AND

PERFORATED CARD.

THIS pretty and useful adjunct of the work-table is composed of coarse perforated cardboard, graduated shades of German wool, from dark brown to very bright, light scarlet, and some white O.P. beads. Cut out four pieces of the cardboard ten inches long, and three inches wide; these are for the bottom, the two sides, and the lid, and must be all the same size; two other pieces, which form the ends, are two squares three inches each way. A very regular and even margin must be left round each piece about half-an-inch wide. Commence with the dark brown wool, and work a row of squares the whole length of the box, leaving an alternate square uncovered the same size, upon which, after the wool-work is finished, the white O.P. bead is to be placed. Continue to work these squares of wool in as many shades as will fill up the cardboard; after which, on every alternate square, sew on with a needle and strong white silk the O.P. bead. After all the six pieces of cardboard are worked in this manner, bind them all round neatly with a narrow ribbon the same colour as the light red wool, and sew them closely together. The handle is formed of a strip of cardboard worked in the same manner, and fastened on at each end with a bow of red ribbon. The lid is then sewn on the whole length of the back, and tied in the front with a bow of ribbon to match the handle, and this very pretty box is completed.

FLOWER-BASKET IN WOOL-WORK
AND BEADS.

OUR coloured pattern represents a basket executed in wool and beads, or in Berlin wool alone. The manner of performing the work is familiar to all our fair readers. It is, therefore, only necessary to say, that the colours may be varied, and the size increased at pleasure.

THE FASHIONS.

patterns will be quite different to those of former seasons.

Visiting dresses are extremely elegant just now, satin and velvet being in great favour. For young ladies, such a rich toilette is out of the question; for them taffetas is more suitable.

THE advancing spring has caused a considerable change in the fashion of ladies' dresses, especially those for out-door wear. Plaids, which were so much admired, have given place to plain colours of soft shades. Foulard again meets with that favour which its beauty and solidity of texture certainly merit; but as there must be always something new, it is said that the summer

Moire dresses are not very much seen. Chenille fringe is still very fashionable. It is put on round the skirt, leaving rather more than two inches at the bottom; and the body is trimmed with the same, put on in veste vashion-for the veste, real or imitated, retains its long-held sway. The fringe is also placed round the top and bottom of the sleeves.

For the more dressy toilettes, as well as for others, sleeves are still made quite small. Mantles, rotondes, or paletots, are made of the same material as the dress, or in black velvet. We cannot but recommend the latter as more becoming; indeed, such extreme monotony as is produced when the toilette is all of the same colour fails in elegance.

In-door vestes are made sometimes of white cachemire, trimmed with black fringe, which produces a very pretty effect. With vestes, waistcoats made of the same material, or chemisettes of foulard, are worn. The latter is the most elegant; it suitably replaces the muslin or lace chemisette worn in summer. White Indian foulard has a great advantage in being becoming to all complexions. For more simple, and yet, perhaps, not less pretty chemisettes, we recommend cornflower-blue, Solferino, or sky-blue foulard.

We may expect a change, not only in materials, but in the shapes of late spring bonnets. At present there is little or no change-satin or velvet for ordinary wear, crape or tulle mixed with velvet for visiting dress. The newest bonnets are narrower than ever at the sides. The new violet, or Ophelia, is being much worn this spring; it is rather redder than that of the two last

years.

Among the newest bonnets was one made of crape Ophelia, trimmed with feathers to match, and a white aigrette. Another had a small bird placed on a bouillon of tulle. And a third, of the same coloured crape, was entirely covered with a light black tulle, and trimmed with plisses of violet silk. Drawn bonnets are very much worn, and are made generally of tulle and silk. A very pretty and simple bonnet of green crape and silk, trimmed with black velvet and rose-buds, has been much admired in Paris.