which were originally banded ought to remain bright, and those which originally remained bright ought to become banded during the rotation of the analyzer.  The general effect to the eye will consequently be a general shifting of the bands through one-fourth of the space which separates each pair.

’Circular polarization, like circular motion generally, may of course be of two kinds, which differ only in the direction of the motion.  And, in fact, to convert the circular polarization produced by this plate from one of these kinds to the other (say from right-handed to left-handed, or vice versa), we have only to turn the plate round through 90 deg..  Conversely, right-handed circular polarization will be changed by the plate into plane-polarization in one direction, while left-handed will be changed into plane at right angles to the first.  Hence if the plate be turned round through 90 deg. we shall see that the bands are shifted in a direction opposite to that in which they were moved at first.  In this therefore we have evidence not only that the polarization immediately on either side of a band is circular; but also that that immediately on the one side is right-handed, while that immediately on the other is left-handed[28].

’If time permitted, I might enter still further into detail, and show that the polarization between the plane and the circular is elliptical, and even the positions of the longer and shorter axes and the direction of motion in each case.  But sufficient has, perhaps, been said for our present purpose.

’Before proceeding to the more varied forms of spectral bands, which I hope presently to bring under your notice, I should like to ask your attention for a few minutes to the peculiar phenomena exhibited when two plates of selenite giving complementary colours are used.  The appearance of the spectrum varies with the relative position of the plates.  If they are similarly placed—­that is, as if they were one plate of crystal—­they will behave as a single plate, whose thickness is the sum of the thicknesses of each, and will produce double the number of bands which one alone would give; and when the analyzer is turned, the bands will disappear and re-appear in their complementary positions, as usual in the case of plane-polarization.  If one of them be turned round through 45 deg., a single band will be seen at a particular position in the spectrum.  This breaks into two, which recede from one another towards the red and violet ends respectively, or advance towards one another according to the direction in which the analyzer is turned.  If the plate be turned through 45 deg. in the opposite direction, the effects will be reversed.  The darkness of the bands is, however, not equally complete during their whole passage.  Lastly, if one of the plates be turned through 90 deg., no bands will be seen, and the spectrum will be alternately bright and dark, as if no plates