This paper gives a description of the technique and equipment used to make solar observations in the near IR region with a coronagraph. Examination of active-region spectra in the neighborhood of the He 110830 Å line confirm that the the line is enhanced in sunspot umbrae. The line profiles of umbrae and faculae differ qualitatively. Flares show a decrease in the line depth in comparison to faculae, and in flare kernels the line undergoes an emission reversal. Simultaneous observations of spectra of chromospheric spicules at two heights above the solar surface reveal that the half-width of the 10830 line increases with height.

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