the character of the crystal, i.e. whether it is right-handed or left-handed.  If we examine the spectrum in this case we find that the dark band never disappears, but marches from one end of the spectrum to another, or vice versa, precisely in such a direction as to give rise to the tints seen by direct projection.

’The kind of polarization effected by the quartz plates is called circular, while that effected by the other class of crystals is called plane, on account of the form of the vibrations executed by the molecules of aether; and this leads us to examine a little more closely the nature of the polarization of different parts of these spectra of polarized light.

’Now, two things are clear:  first, that if the light be plane-polarized—­that is, if all the vibrations throughout the entire ray are rectilinear and in one plane—­they must in all their bearings have reference to a particular direction in space, so that they will be differently affected by different positions of the analyzer.  Secondly, that if the vibrations be circular, they will be affected in precisely the same way (whatever that may be) in all positions of the analyzer.  This statement merely recapitulates a fundamental point in polarization.  In fact, plane-polarized light is alternately transmitted and extinguished by the analyzer as it is turned through 90 deg.; while circularly polarized light [if we could get a single ray] remains to all appearance unchanged.  And if we examine carefully the spectrum of light which has passed through a selenite, or other ordinary crystal, we shall find that, commencing with two consecutive bands in position, the parts occupied by the bands and those midway between them are plane-polarized, for they become alternately dark and bright; while the intermediate parts, i.e. the parts at one-fourth of the distance from one band to the next, remain permanently bright.  These are, in fact, circularly polarized.  But it would be incorrect to conclude from this experiment alone that such is really the case, because the same appearance would be seen if those parts were unpolarized, i.e. in the condition of ordinary lights.  And on such a supposition we should conclude with equal justice that the parts on either side of the parts last mentioned (e.g. the parts separated by eighth parts of the interval between two bands) were partially polarized.  But there is an instrument of very simple construction, called a “quarter-undulation plate,” a plate usually of mica, whose thickness is an odd multiple of a quarter of a wave-length, which enables us to discriminate between light unpolarized and circularly polarized.  The exact mechanical effect produced upon the ray could hardly be explained in detail within our present limits of time; but suffice it for the present to say that, when placed in a proper position, the plate transforms plane into circular and circular into plane polarization.  That being so, the parts