An eclipse expedition to a distant country is a complex matter. A large number of delicate scientific instruments are to be made ready, and tested at home, with reference to their fitness for securing observations demanded in the solution of definite solar problems. Their transport by wagon, rail, and ship to and from the distant station, to insure that they shall arrive safely and on time, must be the subject of much thought and anxiety. The construction and operation of the station will require hundreds of tools and items of supply, and to have them one must take them with him. There are the observers to arrange for and train to the programme. All the instruments and all the observers must do their parts, not at some time when it is convenient, but on a given day, minute, and second. The astronomer charged with the duty of bringing these things to pass is an optimist, for at all points where he needs assistance there are men ready to help him.

The Crocker expeditions are deeply indebted to many institutions and people.

During the months preceding the departure from Mt. Hamilton the Director was especially indebted to His Excellency WILLIAM MCGREGOR, Governor of Newfoundland; to Hon. BENJAMIN H. RIDGELY, U. S. Consul-General at Barcelona; and to Captain H. G. LYONS, R. E., DirectorGeneral of the Egyptian Survey; all of whom frequently supplied information of great value.

Harvard College Observatory loaned four intramercurial lenses for use in Labrador.

Princeton University loaned a lens, 5 inches aperture, 40-foot focus, for use in Labrador.

The University of Illinois loaned a sextant and a thermograph for use in Labrador.

The Yerkes Observatory loaned a 16-inch colostat complete for use in Spain.

The Solar Observatory of the Carnegie Institution loaned a thermograph for use in Spain.

The U. S. Naval Observatory loaned a 5-inch lens, focal length 40 feet, for use in Egypt.

The Santa Clara College loaned a sextant for use in Egypt.

The following gentlemen arranged for the satisfactory transport of observers and freight from San Jose to New York and return:

Mr. JAMES HORSBURGH, Jr., Assistant General Passenger Agent; Mr. G. W. LUCE, General Freight Agent; and Mr. PAUL SHOUP, District Freight and Passenger Agent; all of the Southern Pacific Company.

Mr. L. J. SPENCE, General Eastern Freight Agent, Southern Pacific Company, and many of his staff assisted with the freight in and through New York. Mr. PENNELL, Dock Superintendent of the White Star Line extended favors in the transport of the Spanish and Egyptian freight.

Mr. JAMES J. ROCHE, U. S. Consul at Genoa, had all arrangements made for a quick transfer of instruments and baggage to the steamer for Barcelona, if the "Romanic" had arrived before the hour of sailing.

Sig. CARLO FIGARI, of Genoa, obtained information and accommodations for the party and equipment on the steamer "Jativa" from Genoa to Barcelona, and otherwise assisted in the transfer.

Special mention must be made of the help afforded by Mr. BENJAMIN H. RIDGELY, U. S. Consul-General at Barcelona, in supplying a great deal of accurate information in the months. preceding our departure from Mt. Hamilton, in expediting the importation and exportation of the instruments, and in arranging for the purchase of lumber and many other supplies. His experience was wide, his judgment was excellent, and his assistance was always efficient. We depended upon him in

many ways.

His Excellency WM. MILLER COLLIER, the American Ambassador at Madrid, and Mr. MADDEN SOMMERS, American Vice-Consul at Madrid, responded efficiently to requests for information or advice.

Mr. E. J. MOLERA, of San Francisco, formerly of Spain, long a valued friend of the Observatory, and a past President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, held the needs of this expedition in mind from more than a year before preparations began until it was ready to leave San Francisco. He did us many valuable services in this country, still other services in

Spain, and his thoughts were with us throughout our stay in his native land.

Mr. MOLERA's friend, Professor CASARES, of the Central University, Madrid, whom we had the pleasure of seeing on Mt. Hamilton two years ago, and the latter's friend, Sr. D. ARTURO CUYÁs, who had lived in New York for forty years, together met Mr. CAMPBELL in Madrid before the station was selected and inaugurated several plans that proved helpful. At their request the Minister of the Interior telegraphed to the Governor of the Province of Zaragoza that we were coming into his territory, and asked that he issue suitable instructions to the Alcalde of Alhama to supply our wants as far as possible. In the same way instructions were issued to the Guardia Civil to have an eye to our safety wherever our work might carry us. Sr. CUYás and Professor CASARES kept us in mind during our entire stay in Spain, and came to help in the observations. The expedition is deeply indebted to these gentlemen.

Sr. D. V. LUIS, Director-General of the Madrid, Zaragoza, and Alicante Railway, arranged most kindly to expedite the shipments of the apparatus from Barcelona to Alhama and return, by ordering that they should come by "mixed train," instead of by slow freight, without additional expense.

To Director IÑIGUEZ, of the Madrid Observatory, we were indebted for time signals and other scientific favors.

Sr. D. LISARDO HERRANZ, Alcalde of Alhama, and Sr. D. ENRIQUE IBAÑEZ, the extremely capable Secretary of the Municipality, were deeply interested in the expedition, its work, and its requirements, and were constant in their efforts to make it a complete success. Through their kind offices were made all the arrangements to meet the local material wants of the expedition. They never permitted many days to pass without inquiring as to the progress of the preparations and as to whether there was any help they could give.

The expedition received frequent favors from the telegraphic offices of the Government,-Sr. D. Felipe HERREROS, Agent at Alhama, to whom our thanks are due.

Acknowledgments are due to the members of the Guardia Civil, Srs. BARBAJOSSA and BLASCO, who went beyond the letter of their instructions in their zeal to avoid any misfortunes to the instruments from mischief-makers or otherwise.

The laborers recommended to us were splendid. They were willing, prompt, strong, and intelligent. To the interested help of José, VICENTE, JUAN, and SEBASTIAN the expedition owed much.

To the gentlemen who journeyed from northern Europe, from the cities and universities of Spain, and to those citizens of Alhama who gave of their time in order to assist in the observations, we desire to offer special thanks.

Relieved of responsibilities at the close of eclipse duties, we were psychologically ready to enter upon vacation journeys. These were entirely apart from the eclipse expedition, and had for their principal purpose the paying of visits to many of the astronomers and observatories of Europe. In common with ourselves, several Dutch, English, French, German, and Italian astronomers who had eclipse stations in various parts of Spain journeyed to Madrid after the event was past, where all attended a splendid banquet given for them by the Municipality of Madrid, presided over by the Alcalde, Sr. D. EDUARDO RIGUERA. Many attended a bull-fight as guests of the city.

At the end of a few days in Madrid, Mr. and Mrs. PERRINE traveled by way of Granada and Gibraltar to Naples for a trip through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and England. Mr. and Mrs. CAMPBELL went northward by way of El Escorial and Burgos to Switzerland and down the Rhine to attend the Solar Conference in Oxford; thence to central Germany and Pulkowa, returning again to England to sail from Liverpool on November 1st in company with Mr. and Mrs. PERRINE.

The effects of the three expeditions reached Mt. Hamilton late in November, all in good order.