The electron density in the corona as determined from observations of coronal brightness will be too high if an appreciable part of the coronal emission is not caused by scattering of electrons. The presence of Fraunhofer lines, and the diminution of polarization with ρ , the radial distance from the Sun, can both be explained by the existence of a non-electron source of light. It is found that the ρ−2.5 term in Baumbach's empirical formula can be identified with the non-electron component of the coronal radiation. The change of electron density with ρ has been tabulated after allowing for the non-electron component. The interpretation is in reasonable agreement with ( a ) the intensities of coronal Fraunhofer lines, ( b ) the diffraction theory of non-electron scattering, ( c ) the change of polarization with ρ , and ( d ) the change of polarization with orientation. The distribution of temperature with ρ is determined from the new electron densities.