SUNSPOTS

dark markings frequently visible on the solar surface, discovered by Fabric i us in 1610. They appear breaks in the photospheric clouds, vary in dimensions from ‘pores’ hundreds of miles acro to enormous diameter. The largest on record sured, Feb. 2, 1905, 109,000 by m., and covered 35 of the sun’s The cause of sunspots is obscure, their periodic occurrence (cycle 11°13 years divided into periods respectively 4°62 and 6°51) is closely lowed by terrestrial magnetic and phenomena. of small perching birds with a curved, compre ed beak, and a erately long tail. Their colors bright, and in their grace they Humming-Birds; found in Africa, Asia, and Austral asia. from their fondne for the of the sun; two species of long-necked, only in Central and S. America.