In the Total Eclipse of 8th August last year, the line of totality began at a point to the north of the Shetlands, passed across the north of Norway, from Bodo on the west to Vadso in the north-east, then traversed Novaya Zemlya, Siberia, and Yesso, the northern island of Japan, ending finally in the North Pacific Ocean. Both Bodö and Vadsö are easily accessible by the Nor-wegian mail-boats, the former being, however, some four days nearer than Vadsö. At the first glance one would naturally inquire:—Why was not Bodö chosen for our station in preference to the more distant Vadsö ? The chief reason was the very important one that at Vadsö the sun, at the time of total eclipse, attained an altitude of 15° above the horizon, while at Bodö the altitude was only some 7°; at Vadsö, too, the duration of totality was 106 seconds, as compared with 101 seconds at Bodö. As regards the chances of a clear sky, there was not much to choose between the two stations; on the west coast the rainfall was reported to be relatively large, while fogs were said to be of frequent occurrence at Vadsö. Vardö, some 40 miles east of Vadsö, was declared unsuitable on account of a still greater likelihood of trouble from sea fogs in the early morning, during summer. We therefore fixed on Vadsö as our observing station, and communicated with Professor Mohn of Christiania, the well-known meteorologist, as to the best steps to be taken for securing a favourable site for our instruments. We are indebted to him for much valuable advice, and to Dr Caspersen of Vadsö for his very material help in securing comfortable rooms for us there.